Vaginal-cervical epithelial permeability decreases after menopause.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the effects of menopause (aging and E) on vaginal-cervical epithelial paracellular permeability.

DESIGN

Experimental, basic clinical research.

SETTING

Academic research environment.

PATIENT(S): Premenopausal, perimenopausal, and postmenopausal women, aged 35-65 years.

INTERVENTION(S): Primary to tertiary cultures of normal human ectocervical epithelial cells on filters. Cells were outgrown from surgically discarded ectocervical minces.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Changes in paracellular permeability were determined as changes in transepithelial electrical conductance and pyranine permeability.

RESULT(S): [1] Levels of transepithelial electrical conductance and pyranine permeability decreased as women's age advanced. [2] Removal of E from the culture medium decreased paracellular permeability. Treatment of cells in vitro with 10 nmol/L 17beta-E2 increased transepithelial electrical conductance and pyranine permeability, but the effects were additive to the age-related decrease in permeability. [3] Coadministration of 100 nmol/L tamoxifen blocked the E increase in paracellular permeability in cells of both premenopausal and postmenopausal women.

CONCLUSION(S): [1] Aging and E deficiency decrease independently vaginal-cervical epithelial paracellular permeability. [2] The E increase in vaginal-cervical epithelial paracellular permeability in cells of postmenopausal women is mediated by the E receptor. [3] The E increase in vaginal-cervical epithelial paracellular permeability in cells of postmenopausal women is masked by age-related increase in the tight junctional resistance, leading to overall decrease in paracellular permeability.