Estrogen is the natural agonist of the estrogen receptor (ER). However, certain plant-derived compounds or phytoestrogens have been identified that mimic estrogens and act as agonists and/or antagonists of ERs, depending on subtype and target tissue. Understanding how phytoestrogens interact with ERs, and therefore effect the estrogenic response, may prove beneficial in hormone replacement therapy and in the prevention and treatment of hormone-related diseases. Using Thin Layer Chromatography, gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS), and proton nuclear nagnetic resonance (HNMR), I identified 4-ethoxymethylphenol (4EM) found in Maclura pomifera. While most phytoestrogens are heterocyclic compounds, 4EM is a simple phenol that acts as an agonist of ER-alpha and -beta in HeLa and MCF-7 cells. To study the effect of 4EM on ER-alpha and -beta activity, I performed transient transfection assays and showed that 4EM activates ER dependent gene transcription in a dose dependent manner in both ER subtypes. Further, 4EM- mediated transcription in ER-alpha, like estrogen, was enhance in the presense of co-activators, SRC-1 (steroid receptor coactivator-1), CBP (CREB binding proteins), and E6-AP (E6-associated protein) and inhibited by trans-4- hydroxytamoxifen (4HT). I found that 4EM was specific for ER and did not activate transcription of the progesterone receptor in HeLa cells.

No setor de Ginecologia do Hospital das Clínicas da FMUSP, 67 mulheres com leiomiomas do útero e idade de 24 a 39 anos, nuligestas foram estudadas. 31 receberam goserelin a cada 28 dias por 6 meses (grupo I) e 36 não (grupo II). Do grupo I, 16 apresentaram redução volumétrica menor ou igual a 36% (subgrupo Ia) e 15, maior ou igual a 36% (subgrupo Ib). Após a miomectoma, os nódulos foram encaminhados para anatomopatológico. Um único leiomioma de cada mulher foi submetido ao estudo eimuno-histoquímico para avaliação das concentrações de receptores de estrógeno, progesterona, vasos sanguíneos, colágeno, AgNOR e da celularidade. Concluiu-se que o análogo do GnRH está relacionado à diminuição da concentração de receptores de estrógeno. Não apresentou influência uniforme para progesterona, vasos sanguíneos, colágeno e celularidade / From 1994 to 1998, a total of 67 women with leiomyomas in the uterus, aging from 24 to 39, nuliparous and avid for pregnancy were studied in the Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics of Hospital das Clínicas of Medical School of the University of São Paulo. From these, 31 received Goserelin 3,6mg at each 28 days for six months (group I) and 36 did not received medication (group II or control group). From the pacients who received medication, 16 presented volumetric reduction equal to or less than 36% (subgroup Ia) and the other 15 reduction larger than 36% (subgroup Ib). All women were submitted to myomectomy and the nodes were sent to anatomicopathological study. Only one leiomyoma of each woman was submitted to histochemical and immunohistochemical study to measure the concentrations of receptors of estrogen and progesterone, blood vessels, collagen, AgNOR and cellularity. It was observed that the group that presented larger volumetric reduction after using this medication showed variations of the concentration of receptors of estrogen (p0,001), progesterone (p=0.019), blood vessels (p=0.060), collagen (p=0.048), AgNOR (p=0.321) and number of cells (p=0.221), in comparison to the subgroup Ia and the group II (control group). As a result , it was observed that the GnRH analogue is related to the decrease of the concentration of receptors of estrogen, however it did not present uniform influence in the receptors of progesterone, blood vessels, collagen, and cellularity of this tumor

No setor de Ginecologia do Hospital das Clínicas da FMUSP, 67 mulheres com leiomiomas do útero e idade de 24 a 39 anos, nuligestas foram estudadas. 31 receberam goserelin a cada 28 dias por 6 meses (grupo I) e 36 não (grupo II). Do grupo I, 16 apresentaram redução volumétrica menor ou igual a 36% (subgrupo Ia) e 15, maior ou igual a 36% (subgrupo Ib). Após a miomectoma, os nódulos foram encaminhados para anatomopatológico. Um único leiomioma de cada mulher foi submetido ao estudo eimuno-histoquímico para avaliação das concentrações de receptores de estrógeno, progesterona, vasos sanguíneos, colágeno, AgNOR e da celularidade. Concluiu-se que o análogo do GnRH está relacionado à diminuição da concentração de receptores de estrógeno. Não apresentou influência uniforme para progesterona, vasos sanguíneos, colágeno e celularidade / From 1994 to 1998, a total of 67 women with leiomyomas in the uterus, aging from 24 to 39, nuliparous and avid for pregnancy were studied in the Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics of Hospital das Clínicas of Medical School of the University of São Paulo. From these, 31 received Goserelin 3,6mg at each 28 days for six months (group I) and 36 did not received medication (group II or control group). From the pacients who received medication, 16 presented volumetric reduction equal to or less than 36% (subgroup Ia) and the other 15 reduction larger than 36% (subgroup Ib). All women were submitted to myomectomy and the nodes were sent to anatomicopathological study. Only one leiomyoma of each woman was submitted to histochemical and immunohistochemical study to measure the concentrations of receptors of estrogen and progesterone, blood vessels, collagen, AgNOR and cellularity. It was observed that the group that presented larger volumetric reduction after using this medication showed variations of the concentration of receptors of estrogen (p0,001), progesterone (p=0.019), blood vessels (p=0.060), collagen (p=0.048), AgNOR (p=0.321) and number of cells (p=0.221), in comparison to the subgroup Ia and the group II (control group). As a result , it was observed that the GnRH analogue is related to the decrease of the concentration of receptors of estrogen, however it did not present uniform influence in the receptors of progesterone, blood vessels, collagen, and cellularity of this tumor