Geometric isomers of substituted triphenylethylenes and antiestrogen action.

The estrogenic and antiestrogenic activities of tamoxifen ICI 47,699, enclomiphene, zuclomiphene, and the geometric isomers of monohydroxytamoxifen and CI628 were determined in the 3-day immature rat uterine weight test. Tamoxifen, enclomiphene, and the releated geometric isomers of monohydroxytamoxifen and CI628 were partially estrogenic with antiestrogenic properties. ICI 47,699 and zuclomiphene were predominantly estrogenic; however, an antiestrogen effect for zuclomiphene (100 micrograms daily) was demonstrable and large doses of ICI 47,699 (1 or 10 mg daily) inhibited full estrogen action. In contrast, the geometric isomers of monohydroxytamoxifen and CI628 related to ICI 47,699 and zuclomiphene were partially estrogenic with antiestrogenic properties. The estrogenic properties of ICI 47,699 were classified in three ways: elevation of uterine wet weight, increase in whole uterine DNA, and increase in the mitotic activity of luminal epithelial cells. In general, ICI 47,699 was able to initiate estrogenic responses of DNA synthesis or mitosis by translocation of fewer cytoplasmic estrogen receptors to the nuclear compartment than tamoxifen. A model is proposed to explain antiestrogen action in terms of the geometric requirements for receptor binding. It is suggested that the position in space of the alkylaminoethoxyside chain is of fundamental importance. Overall, these data lend support to the view that a structurally specific ligand-estrogen receptor complex can influence the future events within a target tissue to produce either an agonist or an antagonist response.