Estradiol receptor binding to the epithelium of uterine lumen and glands: region- and time-related changes during preimplantation and periimplantation periods studied by autoradiography

Author(s)

Zorn, Telma M. T. ^[1] ; Soto-Suazo, Mauricio ; Pellegrini, Cleusa R. ; Oliveira, José G. ; Stumpf, Walter E.

Affiliation

^[1] Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas. Departamento de Biologia Celular e do Desenvolvimento - Brasil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Histochemistry and Cell Biology; v. 120, n. 1, p. 1-12, jul. 2003.
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Morphology

Abstract

The presence and changes of estradiol nuclear binding and related functions in uterine luminal and glandular epithelium were studied before and after blastocyst implantation using receptor autoradiography with 3H-estradiol-17 in association with 3H-thymidine incorporation and immunocytochemical binding of antibody to estrogen receptor ER-. 3H-estradiol nuclear binding is present but variable during days 1.5-7.5 of pregnancy. Sites of strong nuclear binding of 3H-estradiol exhibit strong immunocytochemical staining with ER- antibody. Qualitative and quantitative evaluation of autoradiograms reveal that there is a general increase of nuclear 3H-estradiol binding during the first 3 days after fertilization in both luminal and glandular epithelium. The binding of estradiol is stronger in glandular epithelium from day 2.5 to day 7.5, paralleled by a rise in 3H-thymidine incorporation on day 2.5. By comparison, in the epithelium of the uterine lumen 3H-estradiol nuclear binding is low, but relatively high in epithelial cells at lateral branching of the lumen where the increase in 3H-estradiol binding corresponds to an increased labeling index with 3H-thymidine. A highly differentiated binding of 3H-estradiol to luminal and glandular epithelium was demonstrated with region- and time-specific changes of related effects on cell proliferation, differentiation, and secretion, probably involving involution and remodeling. The strong 3H-estradiol binding to glandular epithelium suggests that estradiol exerts pronounced effects on glandular activities in the periimplantation period. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 02/01249-8 - Receptors for ovarian hormones in endometrial cells of mice
• Grantee: José Galeote Molero Leme de Oliveira
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation