THE MEASUREMENT OF HIGH-AFFINITY OESTRADIOL RECEPTORS IN HUMAN UTERINE ENDOMETRIUM AND MYOMETRIUM

Abstract

ABSTRACT The concentration of unoccupied high-affinity oestradiol receptors in the cytosol of human uterine endometrial curettings and biopsy tissue has been determined. In normal specimens, where the day of the menstrual cycle could be assessed histologically, a variation of tissue receptor concentration throughout the cycle was observed showing a maximum at mid-cycle and minima at the beginning and end of the cycle. The distribution of oestradiol receptor sites in the endometrium and myometrium along the length of the uterus has also been studied. Highest concentrations in the endometrium were found in the fundus and these levels fell progressively to negligible concentrations in the isthmus and cervix. In general, the concentration of receptor sites in biopsy material was lower than in curettings and this observation has been related on the region of the uterus from which the samples were obtained. The concentration of receptor sites in abnormal uterine specimens lay within the normal range.