title: The presence of beta-adrenoceptors in rat endometrium is dependent on circulating oestrogen.
abstract: It has been proposed that the change in sensitivity of the uterus to catecholamines during the oestrous cycle may result from changes in beta-adrenoceptor density in the myometrium. In the present work we applied the technique of light-microscopic autoradiography using the radioligand [125I]iodocyanopindolol to study the density and distribution of beta-adrenoceptors in the rat uterus during the normal oestrous cycle, following ovariectomy, and after ovariectomy with oestradiol replacement. We found that beta-adrenoceptor density in the endometrium, but not the myometrium, varied during the oestrous cycle, being highest during pro-oestrous. The endometrium of the ovariectomized rats was devoid of any beta-adrenoceptors, whilst that of the oestradiol-treated rats was very intensely labelled. Following ovariectomy there was an increase in beta-adrenoceptor density in the myometrium, but this was not observed in the animals given oestradiol replacement. It appears that both the presence and density of beta-adrenoceptors in rat endometrium is dependent on circulating oestrogens.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, University of Leeds.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Nimmo
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Whitaker
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Carstairs
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Morrison
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001345:Autoradiography; D004717:Endometrium / Q000378:metabolism; D004958:Estradiol / Q000378:metabolism; D004971:Estrus; D005260:Female; D020120:Iodocyanopindolol; D010052:Ovariectomy; D010869:Pindolol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism; D011869:Radioligand Assay; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta / Q000378:metabolism*; D014599:Uterus / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta; D004958:Estradiol; D020120:Iodocyanopindolol; D010869:Pindolol