Estrogen and progesterone receptors in temporomandibular joint discs of symptomatic and asymptomatic persons: a preliminary study.

Numerous studies have shown the presence of estrogen receptors and a mediated effect of estrogen through these receptors in the articular cartilage of various species, including humans. Because temporomandibular joint (TMJ) symptoms are more prevalent among women, this study was performed to investigate the presence of estrogen and progesterone receptors in the human TMJ. Seven TMJ disc specimens obtained from women with TMJ symptoms with documented internal derangement were analyzed for the presence of these receptors. These were compared with another group of 15 TMJ discs removed from men and women with no TMJ symptoms undergoing skull base surgery who had extirpation of the TMJ for access to the skull base. Detection of these receptors was done by an immunohistochemical technique using mouse monoclonal antibody. The results showed the presence of these receptors in both symptomatic and asymptomatic men and women. Although these receptors were found in more of the women with TMJ symptoms than the other two groups, due to the small number of the specimens studies no definitive conclusions as to the correlation between female sex hormones and TMJ symptoms could be drawn. However it was concluded that the TMJ disc is, at least in some men and women, potentially a female sex hormone target tissue.