Abstract

EFFECT OF CDRI - 85/287, AN ESTROGEN ANTAGONIST / ANTI-IMPLANTATION AGENT ON EPIDERMAL GROWTH FACTOR RECEPTOR (EGFR) DURING PRE-IMPLANTATION PERIOD IN RAT: AN IMMUNOCYTOCHEMICAL STUDY

F. W. Bansode*

Abstract

Epidermal growth factor (EGF)/epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) have been shown to play a vital role in the uterine proliferation/endometrial decidualization. Present study was undertaken to determine the role of EGFR in rat uterus during pre-implantation period under the influence of an estrogen antagonist /anti-implantation agent, CDRI- 85/287. Results on immunocytochemical expression of EGFR showed strong staining intensity in uterine (luminal/glandular) epithelium, sub-epithelial endogenous stromal cells, exogenous leucocytes cells, blood vessel endothelium and in uterine muscularis (myometrium and serosa) region on day 3 p.c. On day 4 p.c., staining intensity of EGFR was observed to be increased in uterine stroma and epithelium. Uterine muscularis region showed strong staining intensity of EGFR on day 4 p.c. similar to in day 3 p.c. Period of maximal endometrial sensitivity (day 5 p.c.) was characterized by marked an increase in endometrial EGFR staining intensity including stroma, epithelium and blood capillaries. Rats administered CDRI-85/287(2.5 mg/Kg, p.o., on day 1 p.c.) caused decrease in EGFR staining intensity in uterine peripheral stroma at antimesometrial side on day 3 as compared to control rats. On day 4, EGFR staining intensity decreased in antimesometrial stroma and circular muscle layer in treated rats, but uterine epithelial activity of EGFR was similar to controls. On day 5, a marked decrease in staining intensity of EGFR in entire endometrial stroma including blood capillaries was observed in treated rats. Results of the study indicate that the inhibition of EGFR staining pattern during pre-implantation days 3-5 by CDRI-85/287 may be due to inhibition of estrogen dependent uterine proliferation and stromal differentiation into deciduas.

Keywords: EGFR, Pre-implantation period, CDRI 85/287, Rat.