Estradiol and progesterone regulate the proliferation of human breast epithelial cells

Author affiliations (3)
  • University of Liège ROR
  • Mithra Pharmaceuticals (Belgium) ROR
  • Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades ROR

Fertility and Sterility, 69(5), 963-969, 1998

DOI 10.1016/s0015-0282(98)00042-9 PMID 9591509

Abstract

Objective

To study the effects of estradiol and progesterone on the proliferation of normal human breast epithelial cells in vivo.

Design

Double-blind randomized study.

Setting

Departments of gynecology and of cell biology at a university hospital.

PATIENT(S): Forty postmenopausal women with untreated menopause and documented plasma FSH levels of >30 mIU/mL and estradiol levels of <20 pg/mL.

INTERVENTION(S): Daily topical application to both breasts of a gel containing a placebo, estradiol, progesterone, or a combination of estradiol and progesterone during the 14 days preceding esthetic breast surgery or excision of a benign lesion.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Plasma and breast tissue concentrations of estradiol and progesterone. Epithelial cell cycles were evaluated in normal breast tissue by counting mitoses and performing quantitative proliferating cell nuclear antigen immunolabeling analyses.

RESULT(S): Increasing the estradiol concentration enhanced the number of cycling epithelial cells, whereas increasing the progesterone concentration significantly limited the number of cycling epithelial cells.

CONCLUSION(S): Exposure to progesterone for 14 days reduced the estradiol-induced proliferation of normal breast epithelial cells in vivo.

Topics

progesterone breast epithelial cell proliferation in vivo, estradiol progesterone breast tissue topical gel postmenopausal, progesterone antiproliferative effect normal breast cells, Foidart de Lignières progesterone breast proliferation randomized, estradiol induced breast cell proliferation progesterone inhibition, topical progesterone breast cancer prevention postmenopausal, PCNA immunolabeling breast epithelial mitosis hormone effects, double blind randomized progesterone estradiol breast tissue, natural progesterone breast protective effect epithelial cells, hormone replacement therapy breast tissue proliferation cell cycling
PMID 9591509 9591509 DOI 10.1016/s0015-0282(98)00042-9 10.1016/s0015-0282(98)00042-9

Cite this article

Foidart, J. M., Colin, C., Denoo, X., Desreux, J., Béliard, A., Fournier, S., & de Lignières, B. (1998). Estradiol and progesterone regulate the proliferation of human breast epithelial cells. *Fertility and sterility*, *69*(5), 963-969. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0015-0282(98)00042-9

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