%0 Journal Article
%T Differential Expression of Sex-Steroid Receptors in the Choroid Aligns With Central Serous Chorioretinopathy Sex Prevalence Across Different Ages.
%A Galuh S
%A Meijer OC
%A Brinks J
%A Schlingemann RO
%A Boon CJF
%A Verdijk RM
%A van Dijk EHC
%J Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci
%V 65
%N 8
%D 2024 Jul 1
%M 38958971
%F 4.925
%R 10.1167/iovs.65.8.5
%X <B>UNASSIGNED: </B>The purpose of this study was to investigate the presence of sex-steroid receptors in human choroidal tissue across different ages and sex, aiming to better understand the pronounced sex difference in central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) occurrence.<BR><B>UNASSIGNED: </B>Paraffin-embedded enucleated eyes of 14 premenopausal women, 15 postmenopausal women, 10 young men (<45 years), and 10 older men (>60 years) were used. A clinically certified immunostaining was performed to detect the presence of the androgen receptor (AR), progesterone receptor (PR; isoform A and B), and estrogen receptor (ERα). The stained slides were scored in a blinded manner for positive endothelial cells and stromal cells in consecutive sections of the same choroidal region.<BR><B>UNASSIGNED: </B>Our analysis revealed the presence of AR, PR, and ERα in endothelial cells and stromal cells of choroidal tissue. The mean proportion of AR-positive endothelial cells was higher in young men (46% ± 0.15) compared to aged-matched women (29% ± 0.12; P < 0.05, 95% confidence interval [CI]). Premenopausal women showed markedly lower mean proportion of ERα (5% ± 0.02) and PR-positive endothelial cells (2% ± 0.01) compared to postmenopausal women (15% ± 0.07 and 19% ± 0.13; both P < 0.05, 95% CI), young men (13% ± 0.04 and 21% ± 0.10; both P < 0.05, 95% CI), and older men (18% ± 0.09 and 27% ± 0.14; both P < 0.05, 95% CI). Mean PR-positive stromal cells were also less present in premenopausal women (12% ± 0.07) than in other groups.<BR><B>UNASSIGNED: </B>The number of sex-steroid receptors in the choroidal tissue differs between men and women across different ages, which aligns with the prevalence patterns of CSC in men and postmenopausal women.