Abstract
This study was carried out to investigate the effects of the antiestrogens, LY-117018 and tamoxifen on reproductive organ of ovariectomized immature rats and also to elucidate the mechanism of action of said compounds by bioassay. Each of LY-117018, tamoxifen and estradiol-17${\beta}$ was administered to ovariectomized immature rats at various dose levels. Forty hours after drug administration, tested rats were sacrificed and uterine wet weight, DNA and RNA contents in uterine and liver tissues were investigated. At the same time, uterine wet weight was also investigated with some other rats treated with 125${\mu}g$ of LY-117018 together with increasing doses of tamoxifen. Ovariectomized immature rats given 25${\mu}g$ single dose of each drug were sacrificed on Day 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 after drug administration and uterine was weighed to estimate the duration of action of LY-117018 and tamoxifen. The results were summarized as follows: 1. The administration of LY-117018 or tamoxifen to ovariectomized rats increased uterine wet weight and DNA and RNA contents in uterine tissues with more increase in tamoxifen groups, but significant differences between groups treated at dose levels of 5${\beta}$ or more of both drugs were observed. Estradiol-17${\beta}$ groups showed significant increases in each group(P<0.01). 2. The administration of LY-117018 or tamoxifen to each group significantly increased DNA and RNA contents in liver tissues with more increase in tamoxifen groups. Estradiol-17${\beta}$ groups showed no significant differences between treatment groups of 5${\beta}$ or more. 3. Treatment with 125${\beta}$ of LY-117018 together with various doses of tamoxifen resulted in more increase of uterine wet weight than treatment with a single dose of LY-117018 or tamoxifen. 4. Treatment with 0.2${\beta}$ of LY-117018 or tamoxifen in ovariectomized rats decreased uterine wet weight,DNA and RNA contents in liver and uterine tissues compared with ovariectomized control. 5. The duration of effective action of LY-1l7018 and tamoxifen was 4 days or more. 6. There was significant difference(P<0.001) in uterine wet weight between Day 9after ovariectomy (two days after LY-117018 or tamoxifen treatment) and Day 10(63.7${\pm}$3.5mg, 39.2${\pm}$9.9mg, respectively).