Cell cycle analysis and detection of proliferative cell nuclear antigen of the endometrium after hormone replacement therapy.
BACKGROUND
To understand the effect of sequential combined hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on the postmenopausal endometrium.


METHODS
Sonographic endometrial thickness, endometrial histopathology, flow cytometric cell cycle analysis and the level of proliferative cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) were studied.


RESULTS
One hundred and thirty-eight postmenopausal women were enrolled in this study. Among which, 97 women had their endometrium being adequately obtained; the most frequent type of histopathology was normal endometrium (91.8%). Endometrial hyperplasia was found in seven patients (7.2%), including typical simple hyperplasia (n=1, 1%), focal simple hyperplasia (n=5, 5.2%) and complex hyperplasia without atypia (n=1, 1%). The proliferative fractions (PF; S plus G2-M phase) of cells from normal and hyperplastic endometrium of menopausal women after HRT were 8.18 and 8.95%, respectively, which were lower than those from 29 premenopausal women without HRT. The level of PCNA of normal and hyperplastic endometrium in postmenopausal women after HRT was about 80 and 84%, respectively, of that from premenopausal endometrium.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study showed the PF of the cell cycle and the level of PCNA were not increased in the menopausal endometrium under HRT as compared to the premenopausal controls.
Chow
S N
SN
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, National Taiwan University Hospital and College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, 7, Chung-Shan South Road, 100, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC. snchow@ha.mc.ntu.edu.tw
Chen
M
M
Chen
P J
PJ
Chen
R J
RJ
Chien
C H
CH
D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015153:Blotting, Western; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D004717:Endometrium / Q000166:cytology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects*; D004966:Estrogens, Conjugated (USP) / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy; D006801:Humans; D017258:Medroxyprogesterone Acetate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D014463:Ultrasonography
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D004966:Estrogens, Conjugated (USP); D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen; D017258:Medroxyprogesterone Acetate