[Effect of 17 beta-estradiol and phytoestrogen daidzein on the proliferation of pubocervical fascia and skin fibroblasts derived from women suffering from stress urinary incontinence].

Objectives: The past decade has witnessed many publications indicating that estrogens play an important role in the function of the female lower urinary tract. Sex steroids receptors have been discovered in areas of the brain involved in the initiation and control of micturition, as well as other target tissues: bladder, urethra and pubocervical fascia. Connective tissue metabolism and collagen biosynthesis are modulated by ovarian steroids. Estrogen deficiency has been linked to the reduction of total vaginal and periurethral collagen content. Therefore, menopause and hypoestrogenism have been associated with several urogenital complaints including stress urinary incontinence (SUI), urgency, recurrent infection and genitourinary prolapse.

Design: The main purpose was to evaluate the proliferation ability of fibroblasts from pubocervical fascia after exposure to 17 beta-estradiol and phytoestrogen daidzein.

Materials and Methods: Specimens of human pubocervical fascia were obtained from 8 perimenopausal women during IVS procedure. Fibroblasts were isolated and cultured by outgrowth technique. After reaching confluency fibroblasts were subcultured every four days and cells after passage number 3 to 8 were used for assessment. Next day culture medium was changed and cells were exposed to serial dilutions of 17 beta-estradiol and daidzein in medium supplemented with only Serum Replacement 2. Cell proliferation was assessed after 96 hrs by means of MTT method. A human skin fibroblast culture served as a control.

Results: Pubocervical fascia fibroblasts showed increased proliferation capacity after 17 beta-estradiol than daidzein treatment. Proliferative activity of skin fibroblast was lower when compared to genitourinary cells in all groups investigated.

Conclusions: The results indicate that, at least in vitro, fibroblasts from pubocervical fascia taken from women suffering from SUI are more capable to proliferate after estrogen treatment, when compared to skin fibroblasts. This is an indirect rationale for local estrogen treatment in case of female SUI.