[Study on estrogen receptor around levator ani muscle for female stress urinary incontinence].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the relationship between estrogen receptor and the occurrence of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) through analysis on estrogen receptor (ER) around levator ani muscle.


METHODS
The biopsy specimens around levator ani muscle were obtained from 31 subjects undergoing total vaginal hysterectomy (TVH), laparoscopic assistant hysterectomy (LAVH) and tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) procedures, who were assigned in to control, pelvic organ prolapse (POP) and SUI groups. The histological structures around levator ani muscle were examined with routine HE staining. ER in structures around levator ani muscle was evaluated by immunohistochemical staining.


RESULTS
ER positive staining rate in levator ani muscle and surrounding tissues was 6.7% among total samples. ER positive staining located in nuclei of connective tissue, smooth muscle and small nerve cells. The positive rate in connective tissue, smooth muscle and small nerve cells was 1.4%, 4.7%, 5.7% in control group, 1.1%, 2.8%, 2.7% in SUI group and 4.1%, 9.5%, 11.6% in POP group, respectively. It was significantly lower in SUI group than that in control group (P < 0.01), and POP group (P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
There is close relationship between degeneration of pelvic support construction and deficiency in ER around levator ani muscle. ER positive staining in SUI group was significantly lower than that in POP group, suggesting that decrease of ER around levator ani muscle in POP might lead to the occurrence of SUI.
Zhu
Lan
L
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100730, China.
Lang
Jing-he
JH
Feng
Rui-e
RE
Chen
Jie
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017773:Pelvic Floor; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000032:analysis*; D014550:Urinary Incontinence, Stress / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D014596:Uterine Prolapse / Q000209:etiology
D011960:Receptors, Estrogen