Effects of pre- and postmenopausal use of exogenous hormones on receptor content in normal human breast tissue: a randomized study.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the effects of exposure to endogenous and exogenous hormones on estrogen receptor-alpha (ERalpha) and progesterone receptor (PR) levels in normal human breast tissue.


METHODS
In a randomized study of women scheduled for mammary reduction plasty (n = 81), ERalpha and PR content in breast parenchyma was analyzed in premenopausal (n = 49) and postmenopausal (n = 16) women. Premenopausal women were randomized to surgery in the follicular or luteal phase of the menstrual cycle or after oral contraceptive treatment for 2 months. Postmenopausal women were randomized to sequential or estrogen-only therapy for 2 months prior to surgery.


RESULTS
ERalpha content was higher in parous than in nulliparous (p = 0.009) premenopausal women and displayed a positive association with age (r(s) = 0.51, p = 0.0002). Compared with premenopausal women in the follicular phase, postmenopausal women had higher ERalpha content (p = 0.040) whereas premenopausal women on oral contraception had lower ERalpha (p = 0.048) and PR (p = 0.007) content. Smokers had lower PR content than non-smokers (p = 0.02).


CONCLUSIONS
In the present study ERalpha content was higher in parous than in non-parous women and associated with premenopausal age. Short-term oral contraceptives yielded lower ERalpha and PR contents. Postmenopausal estrogen/progestogen combined therapy yielded lower PR content than estrogen-only therapy.
Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden. gunilla.hallberg@akademiska.se
Gunilla
G
Hallberg
Ingemar
I
Persson
Tord
T
Naessén
Cecilia
C
Magnusson
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000465:Algorithms; D003278:Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005498:Follicular Phase / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008183:Luteal Phase / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D042361:Mammary Glands, Human / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D010298:Parity; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D017697:Premenopause / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism*; D055815:Young Adult
D003278:Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone