Expression of glucosamine trisaccharides on the rat uterine surface is altered by clomiphene citrate

We have studied histochemically the effects of clomiphene: citrate on the e xpression of oligosacchrides on the apical plasma membrane: of uterine epit helial cells using the lectin Phytolacca americana. Ovariectomized sexually mature rats were given a single injection of either clomiphene in two conc entrations or estradiol 17 beta or progesterone and were, killed 24 hr late r. Uterine tissue was labeled with Phytolacca americana conjugated with avi din and subsequently labeled with biotinalyted ferritin and prepared for tr ansmission electron microscopy. Our results indicate that clomiphene and to a lesser degree progesterone significantly increased lectin binding. Howev er, the increase was not as large as that observed with a single dose of es trodiol 17 beta. When the proportion of lectin positivity in relation to to tal membrane length was analyzed, treatment with clomiphene and progesteron e did not have significantly different effects. Low dose clomiphene did not have a significant effect as compared with controls. Our data show that cl omiphene has: a dose-dependent adverse effect on lectin binding as compared with ovarian hormones. We suggest that these effects contribute to low pre gnancy rates with clomiphene use.