Estrogen receptor distribution in the normal and pathologically changed human cervix uteri: an immunohistochemical study with use of monoclonal anti-ER antibody.

Normal and pathologically changed structures of human cervix uteri were examined for estrogen receptor (ER) content using monoclonal antiestrophilin antibody (H 222 SP gamma) and the peroxidase-antiperoxidase method (PAP). The study was performed on fresh-frozen cervical specimens from 30 women; the staining was evaluated semiquantitatively. The ER expression in cervical mucosa was generally strong and comparable to the ER expression by proliferating endometria. The only exception was the endocervical stroma, which showed distinctly weaker specific staining than other cervical structures. This might account for ER concentration gradients observed in biochemical studies. The ER content in endocervical glands varied in different cases and in different areas of the same specimen, but no correlation to the functional activity of the genital tract or to the morphology of the glands could be found. The squamous epithelium of the portio vaginalis contained relatively large amounts of ER in the basal, parabasal, and intermediate layers. The superficial layer was ER-negative. The only factor we observed that strongly influenced the ER content in cervical mucosa was a local inflammatory process. Our results suggest that the synthesis of ER in cervical epithelium can be influenced by underlying stroma.