Histochemical study of estrogenic and antiestrogenic effects of clomiphene citrate on glycogen synthesis by myometrium and luminal epithelium of rat uterus

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 expression of oligosacchrides on the apical plasma membrane of uterine epithelial cells using the lectin Phytolacca americana. Ovariectomized sexually mature rats were given a single injection of either clomiphene in two concentrations or estradiol 17 beta or progesterone and were killed 24 hr later. Uterine tissue was labeled with Phytolacca americana conjugated with avidin and subsequently labeled with biotinalyted ferritin and prepared for transmission electron microscopy. Our results indicate that clomiphene and to a lesser degree progesterone significantly increased lectin binding. However, the increase was not as large as that observed with a single dose of estrodiol 17 beta. When the proportion of lectin positivity in relation to total membrane length was analyzed, treatment with clomiphene and progesterone did not have significantly different effects. Low dose clomiphene did not have a significant effect as compared with controls. Our data show that clomiphene has a dose-dependent adverse effect on lectin binding as compared with ovarian hormones. We suggest that these effects contribute to low pregnancy rates with clomiphene use.

Uterine morphology and glycogen deposition of pregnant rats after clomiphene citrate treatment during preimplantation stages

Clomiphene citrate did not induce glycogen deposition in the uterine luminal epithelium of pregnant rats as it did in ovariectomized rats. However, the drug did alter the epithelial morphology which may be a factor in its postcoital contraceptive action.

The effect of clomiphene citrate and estradiol on body weight, vaginal cornification, and uterine weight after chronic treatment of ovariectomized rats

Clomiphene reduced the body weight gain of ovariectomized rats to a much greater degree than extradiol did. Estradiol had a more pronounced effect on vaginal cornification and uterine weight than clomiphene did.

The interaction of clomiphene, estradiol, and progesterone in the control of rat uterine glycogen metabolism

Uterine glycogen accumulation was studied in ovariectomized rats treated with all combinations of clomiphene citrate (0.25 mg/kg) estradiol (1.0 micron g) and progesterone (5.0 mg). The rats were given three consecutive daily dosages and killed 24 hours after the final dosage. Based on biochemical data, either estradiol or clomiphene increased uterine glycogen concentration and total glycogen, but progesterone did not. Progesterone significantly suppressed both the estradiol and clomiphene-induced glycogen increases. Based on the histochemical results, progesterone also suppressed the estradiol and clomiphene-induced glycogen responses, but the tissue affected differed. Clomiphene markedly increased luminal epithelial glycogen whereas estradiol induced primarily myometrial glycogenesis. Progesterone completely suppressed the clomiphene-induced epithelial effect and partially suppressed the estradiol-induced myometrial effect. Clomiphene also suppressed the estradiol-induced myometrial response. The results indicate that progesterone does have a significant interaction with clomiphene in the control of uterine morphology and biochemistry. The results also stress the importance of correlated histochemical and biochemical studies in the study of clomiphene-induced uterine glycognesis.