Non-evidence of estrogen receptors in the rectal mucosa.

The aim of the study was to investigate whether estrogen receptors are present in the rectal mucosa of premenopausal women compared to postmenopausal women and men. Thirty biopsies obtained from the rectal mucosa at colonoscopy, performed to investigate inflammatory bowel disease in 23 patients and neoplasia in 7, were examined by the avidin-biotin-peroxidase immunohistochemical technique for the presence of estrogen receptors. The study group (n = 10) were non-pregnant premenopausal women and the control group (n = 20) were postmenopausal women (n = 10) and men (n = 10). None of the subjects had fecal incontinence or was taking medication with hormones. In no case did the primary lesion involve the specimen used for laboratory analysis. All samples showed negative immunostaining for estrogen receptors. It was concluded that in continent women and men, a direct estrogenic effect on the rectal mucosa seems unlikely.