title: Steroid receptor expression in the vulvar vestibular mucosa--effects of oral contraceptives and menstrual cycle.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The objective was to evaluate the influence of combined oral contraceptives (COC) and of the menstrual cycle on the steroid receptor expression in the vulvar vestibular mucosa of healthy women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-five healthy women (20 with COC and 25 without) were included. Vestibular biopsies were obtained during the menstrual cycle. Estrogen receptors (ER) alpha and beta, progesterone receptors (PR) A and B, glucocorticoid receptor and androgen receptor as well as the proliferation marker Ki67 were analyzed using immunohistochemistry followed by computerized image analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The vestibular stromal tissue of women using COC expressed more ERbeta (p=.024) than that of women without COC. In the follicular phase, PRB was more abundant in the stromal tissue than in the luteal phase (p=.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ERbeta is more abundant in the vulvar vestibular mucosa of women using COC than in that of women without COC. There is a cyclic variation in PRB in the vestibular mucosa in healthy women without COC.
authors: Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Clinical Sciences, Karolinska Institutet, Danderyd Hospital, Stockholm 18288, Sweden. ulrika.johannesson@ds.se
authors: Ulrika
authors: U
authors: Johannesson
authors: Lena
authors: L
authors: Sahlin
authors: Britt
authors: B
authors: Masironi
authors: Eva
authors: E
authors: Rylander
authors: Nina
authors: N
authors: Bohm-Starke
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined / Q000494:pharmacology*; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005498:Follicular Phase / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000378:metabolism*; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism*; D014844:Vulva / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone; C101118:progesterone receptor A; C097314:progesterone receptor B