Relationship between uterotrophic and interceptive activities of steroidal estrogens.

The steroidal estrogens ethinylestradiol, mestranol and the synthetic "impeded" estrogen derivatives STS 456, STS 593 and J 628 were studied for their postcoital antifertility activity and estrogenicity in mice, rats and rabbits. Results of these studies suggest a positive relationship between these two biological endpoints with the exception of the findings in rats. As seen in uterotrophic--anti-implantation ratio, in view of only one species it is possible to dissociate the interceptive and the unwanted uterotrophic activities. The profound species differences in the effects of exogenous estrogens on the nidation phase are discussed.