title: Correlation between estrogen receptor alpha expression, collagen content and stiffness in human uterine arteries.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the relationship between estrogen receptor alpha expression, collagen content and distensibility of the human uterine artery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Uterine arteries (n = 13) obtained from women undergoing hysterectomy were mounted for length-tension relations and thereafter frozen for later determination of collagen and estrogen receptor alpha contents.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A negative correlation between estrogen receptor alpha content and collagen content (r = -0.76, n = 13) and a positive correlation between collagen content and passive tension at 1.4 Lo (r = 0.72, n = 13) in the uterine artery were detected. No difference was found between pre- and postmenopausal women concerning the estrogen receptor alpha content, the collagen content or maximal active force.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data show a functional correlate to the expression of estrogen receptors alpha, as a high content of estrogen receptor alpha correlates with a lower collagen concentration, indicating that estrogen through activation of estrogen receptor alpha protects against vascular collagen accumulation making the vessel more distensible.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiological Sciences, Lund University and Lund University Hospital, Lund, Sweden. mllydrup@telia.com
authors.forename: Marie-Louise
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Lydrup
authors.forename: Mårten
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fernö
mesh_terms: D001158:Arteries / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000503:physiopathology*; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause; D017697:Premenopause; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D014599:Uterus / Q000098:blood supply*
chemical_list: D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D003094:Collagen