Prospective study on the cytological aspects of the nasal respiratory epithelium in premenopausal women taking 30 mcg ethinylestradiol and 3 mg drospirenone oral contraceptive

Estrogen receptors and their roles in the immune and respiratory systems

Estrogen is an important hormone for health in both genders. It is indispensable to glucose homeostasis, immune robustness, bone health, cardiovascular health, and neural functions. The main way that estrogen acts in the cells is through estrogen receptors (ERs). The presence of specific estrogen receptors is required for estrogen to have its characteristic ubiquitous action in almost all tissues. Estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) and estrogen receptor beta (ERβ) are the major isoforms of estrogen that are highly specific in humans and enable selective hormonal actions in different tissues. This article reviews some of the observed estrogen actions and effects in different tissues and cells through these specific receptors. This ubiquitous, almost ordinary hormone may reveal itself as a significant factor that helped us to better understand the complexity of the human immune system response against respiratory infections, including the COVID-19, and especially in the current state of this painful pandemic.

Hearing Performance in the Follicular-Luteal Phase of the Menstrual Cycle

Introduction

Estrogen has a protective role on auditory function. It may have an excitatory action on auditory nerve fibers and can have a neuroprotective effect. Progesterone has a mainly inhibitory action on the central nervous system, which may balance the mainly excitatory action of estrogen.

Objective

To determine changes in hearing performance with pure tone audiometry (PTA), tympanometry, distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs), and auditory brainstem responses (ABR) as hormonal changes occur from follicular to luteal phase.

Materials and Methods

Twenty healthy female volunteers (age 19 ± 30 years) with normal menstrual cycle and without any hearing problems are included in this case-control study. Hearing evaluation was performed on the 13th day of the menstrual cycle (follicular phase) and then on the 22nd day (luteal phase).

Results

All of the participants had normal results in follicular phase. In luteal phase, four cases showed abnormalities as follows: reduced hearing thresholds 250 Hz (mean= 15 dBHL), increased amplitudes of DPOAE (mean= 3 dBspl), decreased middle ear pressure (mean= -110 dapa), and delayed ABR interpeak latencies (mean of IPLs I-III= 0.4 and mean of IPLs III-V= 0.6 ms).

Conclusions

In some women, changing of ovarian hormones may induce fluctuating hearing and increased progesterone in luteal phase can lead to abnormal outcomes in auditory function. However, elevated estrogen modifies its consequences in follicular phase.

Alterations in nasal mucociliary activity in polycystic ovary syndrome

OBJECTIVES

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder in women of reproductive age. It can affect various organ systems, and respiratory mucosa has been reported as being hormone responsive.

STUDY DESIGN

A case-control study consisting of 50 women with PCOS and 30 control subjects matched for age and body mass index was conducted, in order to investigate nasal mucociliary clearance time (NMCT) in patients with PCOS. Serum basal hormonal-biochemical parameters and NMCT were evaluated on menstrual cycle days 2-5 for all participants.

RESULTS

The mean NMCT in PCOS and control groups was 10.45±2.88 and 6.92±1.78, respectively (p=0.0001). A significant positive correlation was found between NMCT and duration of disease (r=0.52; p=0.001), serum total testosterone level (r=0.28; p=0.04), and luteinizing hormone/follicle stimulating hormone (r=0.29; p=0.04).

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings indicate that PCOS is associated with altered NMCT. Prolonged NMCT predisposes patients to respiratory tract and middle ear infections, and clinicians should be aware of this.

Evaluation of estrogenic receptors in the nasal mucosa of women taking oral contraceptives

BACKGROUND

There is evidence that the nasal mucosa is affected by estrogen influence. Some authors have already detected estrogen receptors (ER) in the nasal mucosa. However, there doesn't seem to be a consensus about the concentration and distribution of the ER or the possible influence of hormonal contraceptives in the nasal mucosa.

OBJECTIVE

The study was conducted to evaluate the influence of oral contraceptives on the distribution and concentration of estrogenic receptors in nasal mucosa.

STUDY DESIGN

Two groups of 32 women with regular menstrual cycles were selected. One group of women was taking oral contraceptives and the other was not. Samples of mucosa of inferior nasal turbinate were analyzed by immunohistochemical staining for alpha and beta ER.

RESULTS

The use of oral contraceptives induced a decrease of beta-receptors only in lamina propria cells. In both groups, there was a predominance of beta-receptors.

CONCLUSION

Women who took oral contraceptives showed a decrease of beta-receptors in some cells of the lamina propria. These findings show us the possibility of effects of contraceptive pills on the cells such as fibroblasts, mast cells, plasmocytes, and other inflammatory cells.