INFLUENCE OF CHRONIC ESTROGEN-TREATMENT ON THE DENSITY OF MUSCARINIC CHOLINERGIC RECEPTORS AND CALCIUM CHANNELS IN THE RABBIT UTERUS

Overiectomized rabbits were treated for 1 or 8 weeks with oestrogen and the effects on uterine weight, muscarinic receptor density and nitrendipine-binding sites on myometrial membranes were studied. The wet weight of the uterus after 1 week of oestrogen treatment increased more than tenfold and increased further by approximately 50% after 8 weeks of oestrogen treatment. The muscarinic receptor density increased significantly after 1 week of oestrogen treatment. Although there was no further increase in receptor density with continuing oestrogen treatment up to 8 weeks, the muscarinic receptor affinity increased significantly. The density of nitrendipine-binding sites increased sixfold after 1 week of oestrogen treatment and did not change thereafter. Oestrogen treatment had no influence on the affinity of nitrendipine-binding sites. The increase by oestrogen in muscarinic receptor density and in nitrendipine-binding sites as shown by the present data is consistent with the generally reported increase in agonist-induced contractile response of the myometrium following oestrogen treatment.