Detection of testosterone and estrogen receptors in the postmenopausal endometrium.

OBJECTIVE

To detect the presence of testosterone and estrogen receptors in the stroma and glandular epithelium in the malignant and non-malignant endometrium.

METHODS

One hundred and forty-five consecutively-enrolled peri- or postmenopausal patients were submitted to diagnostic or operative hysteroscopy. These patients either had a history of abnormal uterine bleeding or they were asymptomatic with an endometrial echo greater than 4 mm. The presence of estrogen and testosterone receptors was determined in endometrial samples by immunohistochemistry, using monoclonal antibodies and a streptavidin-biotin peroxidase complex system with diamino benzidine as the chromogen.

RESULTS

Testosterone receptors were detected mainly in the stroma in the non-malignant endometrial lesions and in the atypical glandular epithelium in cases of estrogen-positive endometrial carcinomas.

CONCLUSIONS

The presence of testosterone receptors in estrogen receptor positive endometrial carcinomas may be involved in the mechanism of cell proliferation in these tumors. The strong staining reaction for testosterone receptors in the endometrial glands can be considered one of the features of invasive malignancy.