Changes in the binding characteristics of oestrogen and progesterone in uterine and intrauterine tissue with the progression of human pregnancy

Myometrial estrogen and progesterone receptor binding in pregnancy: inhibition by the detergent action of phospholipids

We characterized the phospholipid inhibition of estradiol and progesterone binding to guinea-pig and human myometrial receptors. Of twelve compounds studied, phosphatidylinositol (PI), lysophosphatidic acid and lysophosphatidylcholine (lyso-PC) were the most active inhibitors (50% inhibition at 10(-5) M). Lyso-PC with fatty acid chain length C14:0 inhibited ligand binding both to estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR), C16:0 only to PR and C18:0 neither to ER nor to PR. The lyso-derivates were more inhibitory than the parent compounds. The ionic detergent (sodium taurocholate) inhibited both ER and PR binding, but the non-ionic detergent (Triton X-100) only PR. Triton X-100 enhanced the PI-induced inhibition of ER binding by a factor of 10. PR was more sensitive to inhibition than ER in all cases. The type of inhibition was non-competitive. At term pregnancy, ligand binding to myometrial ER or PR was low or absent in humans, but moderate in the guinea-pig. Phospholipid extracts of human decidua and fetal membranes contained PI and phosphatidylserine rather than lyso-PC. The extract was a potent inhibitor of ligand binding to PR (50% inhibition at 10(-6) M phospholipid phosphorus), but not to ER. The physicochemical environment, modulated by phospholipids acting as detergents, may regulate sex steroid function also in vivo. This might have special significance for pregnancy maintenance.

Enzyme immunoassay of oestrogen and progesterone receptors in uterine and intrauterine tissue during human pregnancy and labour

Oestrogen and progesterone receptors were studied in the non-pregnant state, in early pregnancy and at term using monoclonal antibody enzyme immunoassays. Receptors for both steroids were found in tissues from non-pregnant patients and patients in early pregnancy. At term oestrogen receptors were undetectable in all tissues studied. Progesterone receptors were undetectable in chorion, amnion and placenta at term, while present in extremely low concentrations in decidua and myometrium.