Gynecol Obstet Invest 1990:30:97-100
© 1990 S. Karger A G . Basel 0378-7346/90/0302-0097$2.75/0
Hormone Receptors in Pubic Skin of Premenopausal and Postmenopausal Females J.B. Schmidta , A . Lindmaiera , J. Sponab “Department of Dermatology II. and bDivision of Molecular Endocrinology. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology I. University of Vienna. Austria
Key Words. Pubic skin • Premenopausal females • Postmenopausal females • Androgen receptor • Gestagen receptor • Estrogen receptor
Introduction Skin is a target tissue for various steroid hormones. Mainly the sex steroids display very distinct influences on the various structural elements of skin tissue, which may differ for the same hormone according to the differ ent sites of the body. Androgens may cause androgenetic hair loss and hirsutism as well. In sebaceous glands increased androgenetic in fluences lead to an increase of gland size and to func tional stimulation. But also estrogens influence the func tion of skin appendages. Sebaceous glands are inhibited
[1,2] and in the haircycle of scalp hair the anagen phase is prolonged [3]. Moreover, estrogens stimulate synthesis, maturation and turnover of collagen [4-7], increase the synthesis of hyaluronic acid [8] and promote water retention in sex ual skin of primates [9], Lastly, estrogens increase the vascularization of skin [10], In contrast, few and partly contradictory data exist on gestagenic influences on skin. Although in some cases the effects are similar to andro genic effects - e.g. stimulatory effects on sebaceous glands - in other tissues gestagens are in contrast to androgen action. These effects depend also on the type of
Downloaded by: King's College London 137.73.144.138 - 11/20/2017 4:34:28 PM
Abstract. Various functions of the skin are hormone-dependent. Recently hormonal involvement in aging pro cesses of the skin has attracted increasing interest. The rapid onset of aging of the skin from the climacterium on seems to be correlated with the decrease of estrogens. In order to evaluate hormonal stimulability of the skin a study of hormone receptors was performed in pre- and postclimacteric women. Pubic skin of a total of 106 females was obtained during gynecologic operations for determination of estrogen receptors (ER). androgen receptors (AR) and gestagen receptors (PgR) by saturation analysis. In the preclimacteric group consisting of 62 females with a mean age of 39.6 ± (SD) 6.5 years the operations were performed in the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. The results were compared with those of 44 postmenopausal females with a mean age of 63.2 ± 9.4 years. AR concentrations were significantly lower in the skin of postmenopausal women. 47.4% positive findings with a mean receptor level of 15.3 ± 33.3 fmol/mg protein were to be found against 85.2% positive AR with a mean level of 31.4 ± 20.3 fmol/mg protein in the ovulatory cycling females. These findings were of high significance. In addition, diminished PgR in the postmenopausal group were noted for incidence and mean receptor levels. PgR were positive in 18.4% with a mean level of 34.2 ± 72.8 fmol/mg protein versus 36.3% with a mean receptor level of 34.2 - 72.8 in the ovulatory group. In contrast, no significant differences between ER of premenopausal and postmenopausal skin became evident. Results of hormone receptor determinations in the premenopausal and postmenopausal group with regard to the aging process are interpreted.
S ch m idt/I.indm aier/S pona
98
gestagen under consideration. Synthetic progesterone is a potent inhibitor of androgen-mediated overgrowth of hair in hirsutism [11]. Increasing interest in the aging of the skin attracted interest on influences of estrogens on parameters of skin aging. Epidermal and dermal thinning have been re ported within a few months after the beginning of meno pause or after castration, whereas substitution of the females with estrogens restored epidermal and dermal thickness [ 12. 13]. In order to investigate target organ sensitivity of skin tissue for sex steroid hormones in the pre- and postme nopause, pubic skin specimens were obtained from fe males during various gynecologic operations.
Table 1. PgR in premenopausal and postmenopausal patients Premenopausal Postmenopausal p values (n = 58) (n = 38)
Mean ( ± SD) value fmol/mg protein 34.2 + 72.8 Incidence. %
36.2
18.9 ±73.8
< 0.05
18.4
NS (
© 1990 S. Karger A G . Basel 0378-7346/90/0302-0097$2.75/0
Hormone Receptors in Pubic Skin of Premenopausal and Postmenopausal Females J.B. Schmidta , A . Lindmaiera , J. Sponab “Department of Dermatology II. and bDivision of Molecular Endocrinology. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology I. University of Vienna. Austria
Key Words. Pubic skin • Premenopausal females • Postmenopausal females • Androgen receptor • Gestagen receptor • Estrogen receptor
Introduction Skin is a target tissue for various steroid hormones. Mainly the sex steroids display very distinct influences on the various structural elements of skin tissue, which may differ for the same hormone according to the differ ent sites of the body. Androgens may cause androgenetic hair loss and hirsutism as well. In sebaceous glands increased androgenetic in fluences lead to an increase of gland size and to func tional stimulation. But also estrogens influence the func tion of skin appendages. Sebaceous glands are inhibited
[1,2] and in the haircycle of scalp hair the anagen phase is prolonged [3]. Moreover, estrogens stimulate synthesis, maturation and turnover of collagen [4-7], increase the synthesis of hyaluronic acid [8] and promote water retention in sex ual skin of primates [9], Lastly, estrogens increase the vascularization of skin [10], In contrast, few and partly contradictory data exist on gestagenic influences on skin. Although in some cases the effects are similar to andro genic effects - e.g. stimulatory effects on sebaceous glands - in other tissues gestagens are in contrast to androgen action. These effects depend also on the type of
Downloaded by: King's College London 137.73.144.138 - 11/20/2017 4:34:28 PM
Abstract. Various functions of the skin are hormone-dependent. Recently hormonal involvement in aging pro cesses of the skin has attracted increasing interest. The rapid onset of aging of the skin from the climacterium on seems to be correlated with the decrease of estrogens. In order to evaluate hormonal stimulability of the skin a study of hormone receptors was performed in pre- and postclimacteric women. Pubic skin of a total of 106 females was obtained during gynecologic operations for determination of estrogen receptors (ER). androgen receptors (AR) and gestagen receptors (PgR) by saturation analysis. In the preclimacteric group consisting of 62 females with a mean age of 39.6 ± (SD) 6.5 years the operations were performed in the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. The results were compared with those of 44 postmenopausal females with a mean age of 63.2 ± 9.4 years. AR concentrations were significantly lower in the skin of postmenopausal women. 47.4% positive findings with a mean receptor level of 15.3 ± 33.3 fmol/mg protein were to be found against 85.2% positive AR with a mean level of 31.4 ± 20.3 fmol/mg protein in the ovulatory cycling females. These findings were of high significance. In addition, diminished PgR in the postmenopausal group were noted for incidence and mean receptor levels. PgR were positive in 18.4% with a mean level of 34.2 ± 72.8 fmol/mg protein versus 36.3% with a mean receptor level of 34.2 - 72.8 in the ovulatory group. In contrast, no significant differences between ER of premenopausal and postmenopausal skin became evident. Results of hormone receptor determinations in the premenopausal and postmenopausal group with regard to the aging process are interpreted.
S ch m idt/I.indm aier/S pona
98
gestagen under consideration. Synthetic progesterone is a potent inhibitor of androgen-mediated overgrowth of hair in hirsutism [11]. Increasing interest in the aging of the skin attracted interest on influences of estrogens on parameters of skin aging. Epidermal and dermal thinning have been re ported within a few months after the beginning of meno pause or after castration, whereas substitution of the females with estrogens restored epidermal and dermal thickness [ 12. 13]. In order to investigate target organ sensitivity of skin tissue for sex steroid hormones in the pre- and postme nopause, pubic skin specimens were obtained from fe males during various gynecologic operations.
Table 1. PgR in premenopausal and postmenopausal patients Premenopausal Postmenopausal p values (n = 58) (n = 38)
Mean ( ± SD) value fmol/mg protein 34.2 + 72.8 Incidence. %
36.2
18.9 ±73.8
< 0.05
18.4
NS (
