Patterns of estrogen and progesterone receptors in monkey endometrium during the normal menstrual cycle

Total concentrations of estradiol-17β (E 2) and progesterone (P) receptors (R) were measured in the endometrium of rhesus monkeys ( Macaca mulatta ) during the normal menstrual cycle. The endometrium was collected at abdominal fundal hysterotomy on days 8, 12, 15, 18 and 24 of the menstrual cycle. Visual inspection of the ovaries and measurement of E 2, P, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) provided assuredness of normal ovarian function. Exchange procedures were used in order to measure the total concentrations of E 2R and PR in nuclear and cytosol fractions. The pattern of estrogen receptor showed a slight increase in the cytosol and nuclear concentrations at the preovulatory interval. Later, the total E 2R concentration was decreased when P increased during the luteal phase. Cytosol PR synthesis was parallel to the serum E 2 increase during the late follicular phase. Secretion of P by the corpus luteum was accompanied by a rapid nuclear translocation and concomitant decrease in cytoplasmic PR. Thereafter the total PR concentration declined during the second half of the luteal phase. These findings in monkey endometrium are similar to those reported for human endometrium during the normal menstrual cycle and further establish the utility of these surrogate primates in investigations indicative of human endometrial function.