Expression and significance of estrogen receptors in disci intervertebrales tissue

English Keywords:Nucleus pulposus cell  Estrogen  estrogen receptor  Immunohistochemistry

English Abstract:

  【Abstract】 Objectives: To investigate the relationship of ER with degeneration of intervertebral disc furtherly by detecting the expression of estrogen receptor in normal and degenerative disc tissues. Methods: According to Pfirrmann grading, dividing into three groups: control group, the nucleus pulposus of the normal lumbar burst fracture; observation group, the nucleus pulposus removed from women who suffered spondylolisthesis and lumbar prominent surgery, according to Pfirrmann grading, divided into group A and B. To observe the morphological changes of nucleus pulposus and nucleus pulposus cells with HE staining in control group and group A, B. To detect the expression and distribution of ER-α, ER-β in nucleus pulposus by immunohistochemical staining(Elivison two-steps) in control group and group A, B. To test the expression of ER-α, ER-β in nucleus pulposus by West-blotting in control group and group A, B. Results: HE staining showed that nucleus pulposus cells in the control group were intact and evenly distributed, no obvious cell apoptosis, extracellular matrix stained bright and evenly distributed. While nucleus pulposus cells in group A, B were irregular shaped and unevenly distributed, Obvious cell apoptosis, the nuclei enlarged, dark staining, extracellular matrix stained gray and unevenly distributed, group B was more obvious than group A. Immunohistochemical staining showed that obvious brown-yellow particles were stained in the nucleus pulposus of the control group, while just a little in the study group, ER-β had been found the most obvious reduced. The statistical analysis between control group and group A, B had significant difference(P<0.01). However, the expression of ER-α did not have any significant difference between the control group and group A, B(P>0.05). There was no significant difference between group A and B(P>0.05). West-blotting showed that compared with control group(0.885±0.036), ER-α in group A(0.876±0.058), group B(0.757±0.045) was lower, but no statistical significance(P>0.05). ER-β in group A(0.947±0.043), group B(0.626±0.042) were significantly reduced than the control group(1.275±0.150)(P<0.01). The expression of ER-β had significant difference between the group A and B(P<0.01). Conclusions: There are expression of estrogen receptors in man′s nucleus pulposus cells. The expression of ER-α, ER-β were significantly reduced in degenerative disc tissue, the ER-β is most obvious. The results suggest that the function of nucleus pulposus cells may be regulated directly by estrogen through ER-β.