Purpose: To investigate the expression of estrogen receptor in choroidal neovascular membranes (CNVMs) surgically excised from eyes with high myopia.
Methods: The CNVMs were surgically excised from two eyes with high myopia. Immunohistochemical analysis with a monoclonal antibody to estrogen receptor and in situ hybridization with an oligodeoxynucleotide sequence coding for estrogen receptor were used to study the cellular distribution of estrogen receptor and its messenger RNA in the CNVMs. Immunohistochemical localization of glial fibrillary acidic protein and vimentin in the CNVMs was compared with localization of estrogen receptor.
Results: Immunohistochemical analysis with monoclonal antibody to estrogen receptor showed widespread staining throughout the CNVMs. By in situ hybridization, the expression of estrogen receptor messenger RNA was predominantly observed in the CNVMs. Staining with antibody to vimentin was widespread throughout the CNVMs, which was similar to the localization of estrogen receptor.
Conclusion: Estrogen receptor was expressed in the CNVMs in highly myopic eyes, suggesting that estrogen may have important functions in the formation of CNVMs.