Dose-related effects of non-steroidal antioestrogens nad oestrogens on the measurement of cytoplasmic oestrogen receptors in the rat and mouse uterus.

The dose-related effects of non-steroidal antioestrogens and oestrogens on the measurement of cytoplasmic oestrogen receptors in the rat uterus have been determined. The simultaneous administration of tamoxifen or monohydroxytamoxifen and oestradiol on three consecutive days resulted in dose-dependent decreases in both the wet weight of the uterus and the number of available cytoplasmic oestrogen receptors. The oestrogenic triphenylethylenes ICI 47 699 and ICI 3188 both produced dose-dependent decreases in the number of available cytoplasmic oestrogen receptors. Increasing doses of ICI 47 699 resulted in increasing concentrations of oestrogen receptors within the nucleus. The effects of tamoxifen and oestradiol-17 beta were compared in the ovariectomized mouse; replenishment of uterine oestrogen receptors was less evident in tamoxifen-treated animals than in animals receiving oestradiol, although increases in uterine weight were similar. A single large dose of tamoxifen (50 microgram) produced a prolonged depletion of cytoplasmic oestrogen receptors whilst stimulating rises in uterine weight and DNA and protein content. The results demonstrate that the depletion of the uterine cytoplasmic oestrogen receptor pool is a function of the dose administered for any compound with the ability to translocate oestrogen receptors to the nucleus and as such is not an exclusive characteristic of non-steroidal antioestrogens.