ESTROGEN AND PROGESTERONE-RECEPTOR MANIPULATIONS IN CASTRATED RAT UTERUS MODELS AND THE CLINICAL ADAPTATION

To investigate the influence of tamoxifen, danazol and triptorelin (a GnRH agonist) on estrogen and progesterone receptors of rat endometriu m, 44 castrated Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four equal group s, and each group received either no treatment or one of the agents. A fter administration of the agents, estrogen and progesterone receptor levels, detected by immunohistochemical methods, were compared with th e controls. Estrogen and progesterone receptors were significantly hig her in the tamoxifen group than the controls (p<0.05), but this was no t noticed in the triptorelin group (p>0.05). Receptor levels were high er in the danazol group than the controls, but it was significant only in the estrogen receptors. Among the 3 groups, receptor levels were h igher than in the control group. There was not any correlation among t he estrogen and progesterone receptor levels in all groups. Steroid re ceptor manipulations can be used in the treatment of gynecologic cance r, but further investigations are needed.