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Journal of Ovarian Research
Published in: Journal of Ovarian Research 1/2014

Open Access 01-12-2014 | Research

Immunoexpression of aromatase cytochrome P450 and 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase in women’s ovaries after menopause

Authors: Agnieszka Brodowska, Jacek Brodowski, Maria Laszczyńska, Sylwia Słuczanowska-Głąbowska, Bogdan Rumianowski, Iwona Rotter, Andrzej Starczewski, Mariusz Z Ratajczak

Published in: Journal of Ovarian Research | Issue 1/2014

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Abstract

Background

Menopause results in a lack of regular menstrual cycles, leading to the reduction of estrogen production. On the other hand, ovarian androgen synthesis is still present at reduced levels and requires expression of several steroidogenic enzymes.

Methods

This study was performed on 104 postmenopausal women hospitalized due to uterine leiomyomas, endometriosis, and/or a prolapsed uterus. Patients were divided into three groups depending on the time from menopause. Group A patients experienced menopause 1–5 years before enrollment in the study (42 women). Group B included women who had their last menstruation 5–10 years before the study (40 women). Group C consisted of 22 women who were more than 10 years past menopause. Hysterectomy or removal of the uterine corpus with adnexa was performed during laparotomy. We evaluated the expression of aromatase cytochrome P450 (CYP 19) and 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17β HSD) by employing immunohistochemistry.

Results

Activity of 17β-HSD and CYP19 was demonstrated in the cytoplasm of stromal cells of postmenopausal ovaries, epithelium cells coating the ovaries, vascular endothelial cells, and epithelial inclusion cysts. However, overall expression of both 17β-HSD and CYP 19 decreased with time after menopause.

Conclusion

Demonstration of the activity of the key enzymes of ovarian steroidogenesis, CYP 19 and 17β-HSD, confirms steroidogenic activity in the ovaries of postmenopausal women. Nevertheless, ovarian steroidogenic activity decreases with time, and its significant decrease occurs 10 years after menopause.
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Metadata
Title
Immunoexpression of aromatase cytochrome P450 and 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase in women’s ovaries after menopause
Authors
Agnieszka Brodowska
Jacek Brodowski
Maria Laszczyńska
Sylwia Słuczanowska-Głąbowska
Bogdan Rumianowski
Iwona Rotter
Andrzej Starczewski
Mariusz Z Ratajczak
Publication date
01-12-2014
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Journal of Ovarian Research / Issue 1/2014
Electronic ISSN: 1757-2215
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1757-2215-7-52

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