Histochemical localization of estrogen and progesterone receptors: evaluation of a method.
A histochemical method for the detection of estrogen (ER) and progesterone (PR) receptors in human endometrium, using estrogen and progesterone derivatives linked to fluorochrome-labeled bovine serum albumin (E2-BSA-fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) and progesterone-BSA-tetramethylrhodamine isothiocyanate (TMRITC], has been evaluated. The fluorochrome-labeled steroids were bound to the cytoplasm--preferably in glandular epithelial cells but to a lesser extent also to stromal cells. The steroid specificity of the observed binding was studied by preincubating the sections with a series of unlabled steroids and nonsteroidal, hormonally active compounds (estradiol-17 beta, diethylstilbestrol, tamoxifen, 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone and R 1881 for ER and ORG 2058, R 5020, dexamethasone, cortisol and 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone for PR). The inhibition studies indicated that E2-BSA-FITC and progesterone-BSA-TMRITC bind to ER and PR in human endometrium with a reasonable degree of specificity. The method was reproducible and various procedural steps were tested, showing satisfactory technical stability. The method is applicable to small tissue samples, and is a valuable complement to quantitative biochemical receptor assays, as it localizes the receptors in tissue slices.
D001665:Binding Sites; D004717:Endometrium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D004965:Estrogen Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006801:Humans; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D008598:Menstruation; D008722:Methods; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D011869:Radioligand Assay; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000032:analysis*; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000032:analysis*; D013256:Steroids / Q000494:pharmacology
D004965:Estrogen Antagonists; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone; D013256:Steroids