Measurement of estrogen and progesterone receptors in abnormal human parathyroid tissue

Estrogen and/or progestin administration to postmenopausal women with primary hyperparathyroidism lowers serum calcium. We measured cytosolic estrogen receptors (ER) and progesterone receptors (PR) by classical hormone-receptor binding techniques in parathyroid tissue removed from 10 men and 20 women, and ER by immunocytochemistry in tissue from an additional one man and seven women in order to ascertain whether these agents might exert a direct effect upon tissue responsible for hyperparathyroidism. ER were negative (< 3.1 fmol bound estradiol/10 mg tissue) in all 8 adenomas and 4 of 5 secondary hyperplasias removed from men, and from women in 19 of 22 adenomas, 2 of 3 secondary hyperplasias, and 3 of 4 primary hyperplasias. PR were negative (< 10.1 fmol bound progesterone/10 mg tissue) in 7 of 8 adenomas and all 5 secondary hyperplasias removed from men, and from women in 20 of 22 adenomas, all 3 secondary hyperplasias, and all 4 primary hyperplasias. For immunocytochemical studies, quick-frozen specimens were analyzed with a monoclonal antibody (Abbott Laboratory) directed at nuclear ER. All eight samples--five adenoma and three primary hyperplasia--were negative. We conclude that abnormal human parathyroid tissues have nondetectable levels of ER and PR. It is unlikely that estrogen and progesterone exert a direct, ER, or PR-mediated effect upon parathyroid tissue.