Comparison of aromatase expression in endometrial polyps between premenopausal and postmenopausal period

Objective To investigate the differences of aromatase expression in endometrial polyps between premenopausal and postmenopausal periods. Methods According to menstrual status,the patients were divided into different groups: premenopausal group and postmenopausal group. According to the strict exclusion criteria,20 patients were selected into each group. The postmenopausal endometrial polyps were sampled as the experiment group 1,while the postmenopausal remoteendometrial tissues not belonging to the polyp were sampled as the control group 1. The premenopausal endometrial polyps were sampled as the experiment group 2,while the premenopausal remote endometrial tissues not belonging to the polyp were sampled as the control group 2. All patients underwent hysteroscopic resection of endometrial polyps. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of aromatase in endometrial polyps and the remote endometrial tissues. Images were analyzed by using Image-Pro Plus 6. 0 analysis software. The mean optical density values of aromatase expression were taken as comparison index. Results The expressions of aromatase in experiment group 1 and group 2 were 0. 1001 ± 0. 0140 and 0. 0651 ± 0. 0098,the differences was statistically significant( t = 9. 16,P 0. 01). The expressions of aromatase in control group 1 and group 2 were 0. 0269 ± 0. 0066 and 0. 0342 ± 0. 0083,the differences between two groups was no statistically significant. The expressions of aromatase in two experiment groups were higher than in two corresponding control groups,the differences were statistically significant( t = 21. 16,P 0. 01; t = 8. 49,P 0. 01). Conclusions The presence of aromatase expression is significantly higher in endometrial polyps than in endometriam,both in premenopausal and in postmenopausal period. The expression of aromatase in postmenopausal endometrial polyps is higher than in premenopausal endometrial polyps,so the pathogenesis of endometrial polyps may be different in the two different physiological stages.