RU486 is not an antiprogestin in the hamster

The biological activity and progestin receptor binding activity of the synthetic steroid RU486 (RU38486; 17-beta-hydroxy-11-beta-(4-dimethylaminophenyl)-17-alpha-(1-propynl++ +)- estra-4,9-diene-3-one) were investigated in the hamster. RU486 demonstrated no antiprogestational activity in the female hamster in that it was ineffective in blocking decidualization or interrupting early pregnancy. Competitive binding assays showed RU486 did not compete from hamster uterine progestin receptor. It is concluded that hamster uterine progestin receptor has unique steroid binding specificity.