[Effects of clomiphene citrate treatment on endometrial estrogen and progesterone receptors expressions].
OBJECTIVE
To assess the effects of clomiphene citrate (CC) on estrogen receptors (ER) and progesterone receptors (PR) expressions in glandular, epithelial and stromal cells of endometrium.


METHODS
Endometrium samples of 16 normal ovulatory women (11 with unexplained and 5 female infertility) were taken in the late proliferative phase (12th day) and late secretory phase (10 days after ovulation), both in spontaneous and CC-induced cycles. ER and PR in glandular, epithelial and stromal cells of endometrium were localized and their histological score (H-score) were measured semi-quantitatively by monoclonal antibodies immunohistochemical analysis.


RESULTS
The H-score of ER and PR contents were significantly lower in late proliferative phase and secretory phase of CC cycles when compared with that in spontaneous cycles (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). The decrease of receptor contents in glandular cells was significantly pronounced than that in stromal cells (P < 0.05). In late proliferative phase the decrease of ER was significantly severe than that of PR. On the contrary in late secretory phase the decline of PR was more significant.


CONCLUSIONS
Based on these data, we suggested that CC inhibited the ER and PR induction in endometrium and affected endometrial development. These may be one of the causes of low pregnancy rate in CC-induced cycles.
Xia
Y
Y
Obstetrics and Gynecologic Hospital, Zhejiang Medical University, Hangzhou.
Zhou
F
F
Huang
H
H
D000328:Adult; D002996:Clomiphene / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004717:Endometrium / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005300:Fertility Agents, Female / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism*
D005300:Fertility Agents, Female; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone; D002996:Clomiphene