IMMUNIZATION OF MICE AGAINST A SYNTHETIC N-TERMINAL EXTRACELLULAR DOMAIN GONADOTROPIN-RELEASING-HORMONE RECEPTOR PEPTIDE - EVIDENCE FOR A DIRECT UTERINE EFFECT

PROBLEM: Immature male and female mice were immunized with a synthetic peptide corresponding to amino acids 5-17 (ASLEQDPNHCSAI) of the mouse hypophyseal gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) receptor. METHOD: Effect of immunization (postpuberal) was restricted to the uterus. Pituitary-gonadal functions were not altered. RESULTS: The endometrial lining of immunized females was thin and lacked glandular development. These observations were corroborated in actively immunized and passively immunized adult females. CONCLUSIONS: Apparently endometrial cells express a unique surface antigen, though reactive with antipeptide antibodies, that differs from the prototype pituitary GnRH receptor. Antibodies that selectively inhibit endometrial maturation might be used to treat proliferative diseases of the uterus.