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Progesterone receptors in the human heart and great vessels
M D Ingegno1, S R Money, W Thelmo
1School of Medicine, Department of Surgery, State University of New York, Health Science Center at Brooklyn.
Insights
Progesterone receptors (PgR) were found in human heart and great vessel tissues, including the aorta and coronary arteries. This indicates these cardiovascular structures may be target organs for steroid hormones.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Science
- Endocrinology
- Immunohistochemistry
Background:
- Progesterone receptors (PgR) mediate the effects of progesterone, a key steroid hormone.
- The presence and function of PgR in cardiovascular tissues are not fully understood.
- Steroid hormone receptors are known to be present in various human tissues.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the presence and localization of progesterone receptors (PgR) in human cardiovascular tissues.
- To determine if the heart and great vessels are target organs for steroid hormones.
Main Methods:
- Immunocytochemical assay using a monoclonal antibody to primate PgR.
- Analysis of 50 human tissue specimens, including aorta, coronary artery, internal carotid artery, and left atrial appendage.
- Comparison with non-cardiovascular tissues (uterus, breast, prostate, kidney, gastrointestinal tract).
Main Results:
- Progesterone receptors (PgR) were identified in 31 of 50 cardiovascular specimens.
- PgR staining was observed in the nuclei of smooth muscle cells and endothelium in the aorta, myocardium, and coronary and carotid arteries.
- PgR was also found in vascular channels within atherosclerotic plaques.
- Receptors were notably absent in tested non-cardiovascular tissues.
Conclusions:
- The human heart and great vessels express progesterone receptors (PgR).
- These findings suggest that cardiovascular tissues are target organs for steroid hormones.
- This implies a potential role for progesterone in cardiovascular physiology and pathophysiology.
Abstract:
Progesterone receptors (PgR) were identified in 31 of 50 specimens of human (men and women) thoracic ascending aorta, internal carotid, coronary artery, and left atrial appendage. This was accomplished with a peroxidase-antiperoxidase immunocytochemical assay employing a highly specific monoclonal antibody to primate PgR. In the aorta, specific staining was seen in the nuclei of smooth muscle cells and endothelium of intima, media, and adventitia. In the myocardium, staining was localized to the nuclei of the myocardial fibers. In internal carotid and coronary arteries, PgR was localized to endothelial nuclei of intima, and in vascular channels within the atherosclerotic plaques. PgR was also visible in the smooth muscle cell nuclei of uninvolved media and intima and at the plaque periphery. In contrast, receptor was not identified in vessels of the human uterus, breast, prostate, kidney, or gastrointestinal tract. These findings suggest that the heart and great vessels are target organs for steroid hormones.