Antiestrogenic action of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin: tissue-specific regulation of estrogen receptor in CD1 mice.

2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) is a polychlorinated aromatic hydrocarbon with teratogenic and carcinogenic properties. Previous studies in our and other laboratories have demonstrated that TCDD has antiestrogenic properties. In order to elucidate the mechanism of action of TCDD on estrogen sensitive tissues, we studied its effects on serum estradiol and estrogen receptor (ER) levels in liver and uteri of CD1 mice. Treatment with TCDD did not result in alterations of serum estradiol levels at any of the doses tested (1.0-30 micrograms/kg). In contrast, TCDD treatment induced a dose-dependent decrease in hepatic and uterine ER protein as determined by an enzyme immunoassay and equilibrium binding assays. A decrease in cytosolic and nuclear ER levels in uteri occurred as early as 24 hr after initial treatment with 30 micrograms/kg TCDD and recovery occurred by 14 days. Hepatic cytosolic and nuclear ER also decreased at a dose of 30 micrograms/kg TCDD at 24 hr after treatment, but recovery occurred only by 21 days. Studies in ovariectomized mice indicate that the regulation of hepatic ER by TCDD is independent of ovarian factors, but ovariectomy inhibited the downregulation of uterine ER by TCDD. Furthermore, determination of TCDD-induced cytochrome P-450 levels indicates that the downregulation of uterine ER is uncoupled from induction of hepatic cytochrome P-450. This study indicates that the antiestrogenic effects of low doses of TCDD are mediated through its ability to decrease hepatic and uterine ER and are not due to alterations in serum estradiol levels. Our results on ovariectomized mice indicate that TCDD-induced downregulation of ER is tissue specific and may involve different mechanisms at transcriptional or posttranscriptional levels.