Role of estrogen receptor alpha on vaginal epithelialization of patients with Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser syndrome submitted to neovaginoplasty using oxidized regenerated cellulose.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the expression of estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) on the neovaginal tissue of patients with Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser (MRKH) syndrome submitted to modified Abbé-McIndoe neovaginoplasty using oxidized regenerated cellulose.

METHODS

The current study involved eight subjects with MRKH syndrome. Serial samples of the neovagina were obtained after the surgery and immunohistochemical detection of ERα was performed using antibody NCL-L-ER-6F11.

RESULTS

The operation was performed successfully in all subjects without complications. A total of 22 samples of neovaginal tissue were analyzed. The expression of ERα was detected only 6 months after the surgery, when the neovagina acquired characteristics of normal vagina.

CONCLUSION

In our study, the expression of ERα occurred when complete epithelialization of vaginal tissue was observed. Other mechanisms may be involved in the formation of vaginal epithelium in patients with MRKH syndrome.