title: Expression of estrogen and progesterone receptors in the anal canal of women according to age and menopause.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Fecal incontinence is highly prevalent, especially in menopausal women. The aim of this study was to analyze the expression of estrogen and progesterone receptors in the anal canal of women in relation to menopausal status and age.
  
  
  METHODS
  Samples of hemorrhoidal tissue were obtained from 34 women undergoing hemorrhoidectomy. The patients were divided into 2 groups: group 1 consisted of women with a menstrual cycle (n = 17) and group 2 consisted of postmenopausal women (n = 17). Immunostaining of hormone receptors was performed using specific antibodies (DAKO, Copenhagen, Denmark) in cells from the internal anal sphincter, the vascular epithelium, and the squamous epithelium. The percentage of positivity of receptors and the association between age and receptor positivity were compared between the 2 groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Estrogen receptors were found in the internal anal sphincter in 23.5% in group 1 vs 11.8% in group 2 (P = .656). Progesterone receptors were found in 41.2% in group 1 vs 11.8% of group 2 (P = .118). Squamous epithelium showed estrogen receptors in 52.9% in group 1 vs 64.7% of group 2 (P = .388) and progesterone receptors in 17.6% and 0% in groups 1 and 2, respectively (P = .227). Vascular endothelium showed no receptors. Receptor positivity was not associated with age.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  No significant differences were found in the detection of estrogen and progesterone receptors in structures of the anal canal in women in relation to menopausal status and age.
authors.affiliation: Colorectal Surgery Unit, Department of Surgery, Hospital Universitari del Mar, Barcelona, Spain. david.pares@pssjd.org
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Parés
authors.forename: Mar
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Iglesias
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pera
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pascual
authors.forename: Ariadna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Torner
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Baró
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Alonso
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Grande
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D001003:Anal Canal / Q000378:metabolism*; D005242:Fecal Incontinence / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006484:Hemorrhoids / Q000378:metabolism / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000378:metabolism; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
chemical_list: D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone