RESUMO
BACKGROUND: The endometrium is a very dynamic organ that experience several half-full processes by the ovarian secretion of estradiol and progesterone. The effect of hormones steroids, in the epithelial cells, endoteliales and estromales of the endometrium, is influenced by receptors of estrogens and progesterone. OBJECTIVE: determine if there are any differences in the density of the estrogen receptors (ER) between the normal endometrial, the simple and complex hyperplasia, the atypical hyperplasia and the. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective study comparative was made. We included 143 samples that were knit together in 5 categories of the following way: Normal endometrial (n = 38), Simple hyperplasia (n = 58), Complex hyperplasia (n = 22), Atypical hyperplasia (n = 9), Adenocarcinoma (n = 16). Immunohistochemistry method was used through estreptavidin biotin peroxidase diaminobenzidine. The samples were analyzed for computer image. Mendez modified technique for cell count was used. The statistical analysis included descriptive statistical. The differences between groups were analyzed using ANOVA-MANOVA and t of Student for independent samples (alpha = 0.05) and other statistical test. RESULTS: there were no statistical significant differences on the cell density with ER between the normal endometrial and the simple and complex hyperplasia. The estrogen receptors are decreased in the atypical hyperplasia and the endometrial adenocarcinoma. DISCUSSION: The gravity of the injury increases proportionally with the age; the most important factor in the reduction of the cells with estrogénicos receivers is the neoplastic transformation.