Quantification of apoptotic phenomenon on endometrial biopsies in postmenopausal patients under hormonal replacement therapy (HRT).
OBJECTIVE
To quantify the apoptotic phenomenon on endometrial biopsies in postmenopausal patients under hormonal replacement therapy (HRT).


METHODS
The study lot consisted of 30 endometrial biopsies on which we studied the apoptotic phenomenon through morphological and molecular biology techniques (TUNEL reaction). Examination of endometrial biopsies before and post-therapeutically has been made.


CONCLUSIONS
From morphological point of view, pre-therapeutically, endometrial biopsies presented apoptotic changes in about 1-3% of cells and under TSH there have been observed apoptotic changes in about 1-2% of cells. In female reproductive system, we found out a raised rate of cellular proliferation and concurrently a raised rate of apoptosis. Apoptotic phenomenon can be observed in endometrium at every menstrual cycle. In proliferative endometrium apoptosis rate is low, but in endometrial carcinoma apoptosis rate grow up. Bcl2 and Bax are expressing in normal and hyperplastic endometrium, but in endometrial carcinoma Bcl2/Bax ratio decline.


CONCLUSIONS
Quantification of apoptosis, using morphological and TUNEL reaction methods, on endometrial biopsies in postmenopausal patients before and after therapy indicate a low rate of apoptotic phenomenon.
Terzea
Dana
D
Department of Histopathology and Immunohistochemistry, Victor Babeş National Institute for Research and Development in Pathology and Biomedical Sciences, 99-101 Independenţei Avenue, Bucharest, Romania. danaterzea@gmail.com
Iosif
Cristina
C
Vasilescu
Florina
F
Andrei
F
F
Dobrea
Camelia
C
Nicolae
Alina
A
Georgescu
Alina
A
Mircea
F
F
Ceauşu
M
M
Vişan
Ariana
A
Mihai
Mihaela
M
Ardeleanu
Carmen
C
D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D001706:Biopsy; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology*; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology*; D004717:Endometrium / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology*; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000187:drug effects