Efficacy of hormone replacement therapy in postmenopausal women with oral discomfort

Forabosco, Andrea; Criscuolo, Mario; Coukos, George; Uccelli, E; Weinstein, Rachel; Spinato, Sergio; Botticelli, A; Volpe, Annibale

doi:10.1016/0030-4220(92)90100-5

Cited by 134 publications

(90 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…Human gingiva has been shown to contain receptors for estradiol by autoradiography using radioactively labeled estradiol (Vittek et al 1982a) and oral mucosa has been shown to express ER mRNA (Leimola-Virtanen et al 2000). In a single study, the presence of ERs in healthy gingiva has been demonstrated by immunohistochemistry (IHC), although the subtype was not determined (Forabosco et al 1992). However, other IHC-based studies have been unable to confirm this finding (Ojanotko-Harri et al 1992, Leimola-Virtanen et al 2000.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 80%

“…The evidence for the presence of ERs in normal human oral mucosa and salivary glands by IHC has been inconclusive (Forabosco et al 1992, Ojanotko-Harri et al 1992, Shick et al 1995, Leimola-Virtanen et al 2000, Glas et al 2002. In contrast, a number of studies using non-IHC-based detection methods have suggested the presence of ERs within these tissues.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Similarly, during pregnancy, the severity of gingival inflammation is increased (Löe & Silness 1963, Hugoson 1971 and there is a heightened risk for development of gingival pyogenic granuloma (Daley et al 1991). Estrogens are also known to modulate epithelial maturation in classic target organs, and similarly, the decrease in estrogen levels during menopause is thought to affect the oral epithelial maturation process, leading to thin, atrophic epithelium prone to inflammatory changes (Litwack et al 1970, Forabosco et al 1992. Clinically, menopausal women may exhibit symptoms of oral discomfort characterized by a burning sensation, sensation of oral dryness and decreased saliva secretion (Wardrop et al 1989, Forabosco et al 1992.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Oral dryness can lead to considerable difficulty in speaking, eating and tasting, and predispose mucosa to wounds, abrasion and infection. A number of studies have shown that hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can relieve this oral discomfort in postmenopausal women, further suggesting a role for female sex hormones in the maintenance of oral tissues (Wardrop et al 1989, Forabosco et al 1992, Leimola-Virtanen et al 1997, Eliasson et al 2003.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Estrogens are also known to modulate epithelial maturation in classic target organs, and similarly, the decrease in estrogen levels during menopause is thought to affect the oral epithelial maturation process, leading to thin, atrophic epithelium prone to inflammatory changes (Litwack et al 1970, Forabosco et al 1992. Clinically, menopausal women may exhibit symptoms of oral discomfort characterized by a burning sensation, sensation of oral dryness and decreased saliva secretion (Wardrop et al 1989, Forabosco et al 1992. Oral dryness can lead to considerable difficulty in speaking, eating and tasting, and predispose mucosa to wounds, abrasion and infection.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Estrogen receptor-beta is the predominant estrogen receptor subtype in human oral epithelium and salivary glands

Välimaa

Savolainen

Soukka

et al. 2004

Journal of Endocrinology

167

149

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Many studies have shown that the oral mucosa and salivary glands are sensitive to estrogen action. However, the expression of estrogen receptors (ERs) within these tissues is an area of controversy. ERs exist as two subtypes (ER and ER ), and we hypothesized that the incongruity between ER expression and estrogen sensitivity may result from differential expression of ER subtypes in oral tissues. To test this hypothesis, we analyzed oral mucosal and salivary gland samples for ER and ER protein expression by immunohistochemistry from a cross-section of patients attending hospital for surgical problems of the head and neck. ER was not detected in oral buccal and gingival epithelium or in salivary glands. In contrast, ER was widely expressed at high levels in all oral tissues studied. Within these tissues, ER was observed primarily in keratinocytes and salivary gland acinar and ductal cells. Our results demonstrating the expression of only the ER subtype within oral tissues may explain the contradictory results from previous studies investigating ER expression in these tissues. Importantly, these results suggest that estrogens may act via ER in oral tissues and explain the effect of hormonal changes on the oral mucosa as well as on saliva secretion and composition.

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