EFFECTS OF TAMOXIFEN AND ICI-164384 ON PROTEIN-SYNTHESIS AND VECTORIAL SECRETION IN POLARIZED RAT UTERINE EPITHELIAL-CELLS

A polarized, primary cell, bicameral culture system was utilized to te st the effects of two types of antiestrogens, tamoxifen (class I) and ICI 164384 (class II) on post-mitotic, uterine epithelial cells. The r esults demonstrate that in addition to blocking estrogen action in a d ose-dependent manner, each of these compounds has independent effects on protein synthesis and secretion in these cells. The effects of both tamoxifen and ICI 164384 on vectorial protein secretion were complete ly opposite to those of estradiol. Both antiestrogens given alone repr essed apical secretion and stimulated basal secretion, whereas estradi ol stimulated apical and repressed basal secretion. Furthermore, speci fic protein bands in both the apical and basal secretory compartments responded differently according to dose to each compound. These experi ments using polarized uterine epithelial cell cultures have identified apical and basal protein secretion as two cellular responses with inc reased sensitivity to steroids and antisteroids. Copyright (C) 1996 El sevier Science Ltd.