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Estrogen stimulation of ovarian surface epithelial cell proliferation

  • Cell Growth/Differentiation/Apoptosis
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Summary

Ovarian cancer is the leading cause of gynecological cancer mortality, and 85–90% of this malignancy originates from the ovarian surface epithelium (OSE). The etiology of ovarian epithelial cancer is unknown but a role for estrogens has been suspected. However, the effect of estrogens on OSE cell proliferation remains to be determined. Using the rabbit model, our studies have demonstrated that 17β-estradiol stimulates OSE cell proliferation and the formation of a papillary ovarian surface morphology similar to that seen in human ovarian serous neoplasms of low malignant potential. Immunohistochemical staining of ovarian tissue sections with an antibody to the estrogen receptor α demonstrates its expression in both OSE cells and stromal interstitial cells. In primary ovarian cell cultures, the proliferative response of the epithelial cells to 17β-estradiol depends on the expression of the estrogen receptor α in the epithelial cells. However, when the epithelial cells are grown together with ovarian stromal cells, their proliferative response to this hormone is greatly enhanced, suggesting the involvement of stromal-epithelial interactions. These studies suggest a role for estrogens and the estrogen receptor α in OSE growth.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, 33612, Tampa, Florida

    Wenlong Bai, Beatriz Oliveros-Saunders, Qiang Wang, Mildred E. Acevedo-Duncan & Santo V. Nicosia

  2. Department of Pathology, University of South Florida College of Medicine, 12901 Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, MDC Box 11, 33612-4799, Tampa, Florida

    Wenlong Bai, Beatriz Oliveros-Saunders, Qiang Wang, Mildred E. Acevedo-Duncan & Santo V. Nicosia

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  1. Wenlong Bai
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  2. Beatriz Oliveros-Saunders
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  4. Mildred E. Acevedo-Duncan
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  5. Santo V. Nicosia
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Correspondence to Santo V. Nicosia.

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Bai, W., Oliveros-Saunders, B., Wang, Q. et al. Estrogen stimulation of ovarian surface epithelial cell proliferation. In Vitro Cell.Dev.Biol.-Animal 36, 657–666 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1290/1071-2690(2000)036<0657:ESOOSE>2.0.CO;2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1290/1071-2690(2000)036<0657:ESOOSE>2.0.CO;2

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