Oestrogen receptors and their relation to neural receptive tissue of the labia minora.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the cellular distributions of oestrogen receptors alpha and beta (ER alpha and ER beta) and neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) in the labia minora, as knowledge about ER type and function may clarify the role of oestrogens in vaginal scar formation and improve outcomes in female genital surgery.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

Labial samples were taken from 10 girls (aged 2-9 years) who underwent surgery for labial fusion. The waste tissue strips obtained were used for immunohistochemical identification of ER alpha and ER beta, and nNOS in the labia minora.

RESULTS

There was ER alpha nuclear staining in the stroma of the labia minora close to the clitoris, and basal and suprabasal in the epidermal cells membrane restricted to superficial sections of the labia minora. ER beta was found in the stroma of the labia minora closer to the clitoris and in superficial sections, in the basal epidermal cells membrane and apocrine glandular epithelial cells membrane. There was also ER beta cell membrane staining in the basal and suprabasal epithelial cells and fibroblasts in the lamina propria.

CONCLUSIONS

Established ER presence allows the consideration of the introitus of the vagina as a target for oestrogen therapy in various clinical and surgical situations. Continuing elucidation of the immunohistochemistry of this external genital tissue might assist in the development of molecular tools to treat genital abnormalities. Details of this immunohistochemistry may also advance the understanding of the effects of sexual differentiation on the brain and other organ systems.