Placental expressions of estrogen receptor α, estrogen receptor β in intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy

ObjectiveTo investigate the association of the expression of estrogen receptor α, estrogen receptor β in placenta with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) susceptibility.MethodsIn 14 cases of mild ICP, 14 cases of severe ICP and 14 cases of normal cases (control group) with corresponding age and gestation weeks, the expressions of ERα and ERβ were detected by means of immunohistochemical method S-P.ResultsThe mean grey numbers of ERα in each group mentioned above were 151.68±3.76, 149.85±3.69, 153.18±3.18, without significant difference (P>0.05). The mean grey numbers of ERβ in each group mentioned above were 146.51±3.81, 139.43±9.97, 149.87±4.17, with significant difference (P>0.05); the expression of ERβ of severe ICP group was significantly higher than that of the mild ICP group and the control group (P>0.05). The expression of ERβ in every group was higher than that of ERα (P>0.05).ConclusionERβ maybe play an important part in the etiology and development of ICP.