Validity of a histochemical estrogen receptor assay. Supported by the observation of a cellular response to steroid manipulation.
A macromolecular hydrophilic fluorescent estradiol conjugate, 17 beta-estradiol-6-carboxymethyl oxime-bovine serum albumin-fluorescein isothiocyanate, was used as a histochemical reagent to study estrogen-binding substances or putative estrogen receptors in cryostatically frozen sections of the rat uterus. Exogenous 17 beta-estradiol injected subcutaneously was found to induce or increase the synthesis of an estrogen-binding substance (or substances) in the cytoplasm of the luminal epithelial cells of the uterus in immature and adult ovariectomized female rats, whereas progesterone antagonized this effect. No effect was observed when hydrocortisone was substituted for progesterone. These intracellular responses to steroid hormone manipulation accord with the known behavior of estrogen receptors in the rat uterus. The results offer further evidence that this histochemical method is capable of identifying cell types rich in estrogen receptors.
D000818:Animals; D001284:Atrophy; D004848:Epithelium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D004958:Estradiol / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D005615:Freezing; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000494:pharmacology; D011374:Progesterone / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D014021:Tissue Preservation; D014599:Uterus / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol; D006854:Hydrocortisone