Enhancement of estradiol potency by the 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase inhibitor, 16-methylene E2 in vivo.

The ability of 16-methylene E2, a 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase inhibitor, to enhance estradiol 17 beta (E2) potency was assayed by 24-hr weight gain in the immature rat uterus. Initial studies demonstrated that 16-methylene E2 (1-100 micrograms s.c.) did not produce significant uterine weight gain 24 hr after administration, whereas E2 (0.1-10 micrograms s.c.) produced a significant uterine weight gain under the same experimental conditions. A subthreshold dose of E2 (0.01 microgram s.c.) when administered in combination with 100 micrograms (s.c.) of 16-methylene E2 produced a significant uterine weight gain. When rats were predosed with 16-methylene E2 at 72, 48, 24, 6 or 0 hr before the administration of 0.01 microgram of E2, the magnitude of the 24-hr uterine weight gain increased and attained maximal values for the 6-hr pretreatment time point. A subsequent dose-response study of 16-methylene E2 (1-100 micrograms s.c.) administered 6 hr before 0.01 microgram of E2 revealed that the 10, 50 and 100 microgram 16-methylene E2 dose significantly increased uterine weight gain in a dose-dependent manner. These results indicate that 16-methylene E2 is not a direct acting estrogen but acts synergistically with E2 to produce an enhanced uterine response. In a separate set of monkey experiments: 1) A trace dose of [3H]E2 was perfused through the in situ, term rhesus monkey placenta via the umbilical arteries and samples were collected from the umbilical vein of this open system.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)