Inhibition of the uterotropic activity of estrogens and antiestrogens by the short acting antiestrogen LY117018

The aim of the study was to determine whether the dihydroxylated antiestrogen LYl17018, with a high affinity for the estrogen receptor and low intrinsic estrogenic activity, could inhibit the uterotropic actions of steroidal [estradiol-17β (E₂)] and nonsteroidal [ICI 3188 and trianisylchloroethylene (TACE)] estrogens in immature rats and also the uterotropic actions of tamoxifen and monohydroxytamoxifen in the ovariec-tomized mouse and immature rat. In the first series of experiments, LY117018 was compared with monohydroxytamoxifen. Both antiestrogens inhibited the uterotropic actions of E₂ (0.32 μg daily), ICI 3188 (5 μg daily), and TACE (40 and 160 μg daily) in a dose-related manner (0.32-82 μg daily). The potency of the antiestrogens against E₂ and ICI 3188 was similar, however, at higher doses (20.48 and 82 μg daily) LY117018 reduced uterine weights to below the lowest level achieved by monohydroxyta-moxifen. In contrast, LYl17018 was less effective against the long acting estrogen TACE. The competitive interaction of LY117018 with tamoxifen and monohydroxytamoxifen was compared in 3-day ovariectomized mouse and immature rat uterine weight tests. Tamoxifen and monohydroxytamoxifen were fully estrogenic in the mouse (5 μg daily) and partially estrogenic in the rat (1.5-20 μg daily). LY117018 was a partial estrogen in the mouse and a weakly active partial estrogen in the rat (2.5-120 μg daily). LY117018 produced dose-related decreases in the uterine weight increases induced by tamoxifen and monohydroxytamoxifen in both species. However, in the rat, LY117018 was more effective against the less potent compound tamoxifen, at a 6:1 dosage ratio compared with a 24:1 dosage ratio required for the potent compound monohydroxytamoxifen. LY117018 had a short duration of action as an antiestrogen when compared with monohydroxytamoxifen. LY117018 (120 μg) was only completely effective as an antiestrogen if administered repeatedly with E₂ whereas a single injection of monohydroxytamoxifen (120 μg) was sufficient to inhibit fully E₂ action in the uterus for up to 4 days. Because LY117018 has a shorter duration of action than monohydroxytamoxifen, a high dosage ratio of LY117018 over monohydroxytamoxifen is required to maintain effective competitive antagonism in the uterus. Overall, these findings suggest that monohydroxytamoxifen and LY117018 probably act through the same mechanism of action via the estrogen receptor.