IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL DETECTION OF ESTROGEN AND PROGESTERONE RECEPTORS IN THE HUMAN LACRIMAL GLAND

The nature and extent of estrogen and progesterone action on the lacrimal gland is not known, and neither are the targets for their action. Immunohistochemical detection of estrogen and progesterone receptors in the human lacrimal glands in both sexes in different age groups was performed in this study. Twenty human lacrimal glands from autopsies were analyzed by the immunohistochemical method of cell counting and the χ² test. Estrogen and progesterone recep- tors were detected in the lacrimal glands of both sexes with significantly higher total and average cell counts in females (p<0,001). Estrogen and progesterone receptors are present in human lacrimal glands with age and gender dependent expression.