title: The effects of the antiprogesterone RU486 (Mifepristone) on an endometrial secretory glycan: an immunocytochemical study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the effects of progesterone (P) receptor blockade by RU486 (Mifepristone; Roussel-Uclaf, Paris, France) on a secretory endometrial glycan recognized by monoclonal antibody D9B1.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective comparison of endometrial biopsies from treated and untreated women from 2 to 8 days after the luteinizing peak (LH) peak.
  
  
  METHODS
  Infertility clinic, Jessop Hospital for Women, Sheffield.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-two normal fertile women received the RU486. A control group of 44 normal fertile women were also assessed.
  
  
  METHODS
  RU486 was administered to 22 normal women during the first half of the luteal phase and an endometrial biopsy examined 3 days later.
  
  
  METHODS
  Immunohistochemistry was used to assess the production and secretion of the D9B1 epitope.
  
  
  RESULTS
  When the drug was given 2 days after the LH peak, it prevented appearance of the epitope. When RU486 was administered 5 days after the LH peak, epitope already present in gland cells was subsequently secreted.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data suggest that production of the sialo-oligosaccharide is P-dependent, but secretion through established intracellular pathways is P-independent.
authors.affiliation: University of Sheffield, Jessop Hospital for Women, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Graham
authors.forename: T C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: M W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Seif
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Aplin
authors.forename: I D
authors.initials: ID
authors.lastname: Cooke
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001706:Biopsy; D004717:Endometrium / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D000939:Epitopes / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008183:Luteal Phase; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D015735:Mifepristone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009844:Oligosaccharides / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D012016:Reference Values; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D000939:Epitopes; D009844:Oligosaccharides; D011134:Polysaccharides; C016735:sialooligosaccharides; D015735:Mifepristone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone