Enhanced estrogen-induced proliferation in obese rat endometrium.
OBJECTIVE
We tested the hypothesis that the proliferative estrogen effect on the endometrium is enhanced in obese vs lean animals.


METHODS
Using Zucker fa/fa obese rats and lean control, we examined endometrial cell proliferation and the expression patterns of certain estrogen-regulated proproliferative and antiproliferative genes after short-term treatment with estradiol.


RESULTS
No significant morphologic/histologic difference was seen between the obese rats and the lean rats. Estrogen-induced proproliferative genes cyclin A and c-Myc messenger RNA expression were significantly higher in the endometrium of obese rats compared with those of the lean control. Expression of the antiproliferative gene p27Kip1 was suppressed by estrogen treatment in both obese and lean rats; however, the decrease was more pronounced in obese rats. Estrogen more strongly induced the antiproliferative genes retinaldehyde dehydrogenases 2 and secreted frizzled-related protein 4 in lean rats but had little or no effect in obese rats.


CONCLUSIONS
Enhancement of estrogen-induced endometrial proproliferative gene expression and suppression of antiproliferative gene expression was seen in the endometrium of obese vs lean animals.
Zhang
Qian
Q
Department of Gynecologic Oncology, the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
Shen
Qi
Q
Celestino
Joseph
J
Milam
Michael R
MR
Westin
Shannon N
SN
Lacour
Robin A
RA
Meyer
Larissa A
LA
Shipley
Gregory L
GL
Davies
Peter J A
PJ
Deng
Lei
L
McCampbell
Adrienne S
AS
Broaddus
Russell R
RR
Lu
Karen H
KH
D000818:Animals; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004717:Endometrium / Q000187:drug effects*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004967:Estrogens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects*; D005796:Genes / Q000187:drug effects*; D009765:Obesity / Q000503:physiopathology*; D051381:Rats; D011924:Rats, Zucker
D004967:Estrogens; D004958:Estradiol