Immunohistochemical expression of hormonal receptors, collagen, elastin, and proteoglycans in genuine urinary incontinence

Purpose: To study the expression of hormonal receptors, collagen, elastin, proteoglycans, and VIP in the vaginal wall of women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI). Materials and Methods: Fifty-eight specimens of the anterior vaginal wall (28 women with SUI) were processed by Ventana immunostaining method. Results: Both groups were compatible for age, BMI, and obstetric history. Positive ER-α and ER-β immunoreaction was observed in 46.4% and 3.6% of SUI (43.3% and 33.3 % of controls) (p p Conclusion: Immunoexpression of ER-β, elastin, decorin, fibromodulin, and VIP was significantly lower in SUI than controls, showing that the ER-β dependent re-modeling of the extracellular matrix of vaginal tissues is the main mechanism of SUI.