[Monoclonal antibodies to human progesterone receptors: production, indentification and clinical application]

A peptide with 15 amino acid of human progesterone receptor (PR) was synthesized and used as antigen. Five hybridoma cells were obtained by cloning technique. In tests to hybridoma cell H4, the site specificity of the antibody to PR was found. The antibody reacted specifically with PR, but did not cross-react with ER, AR, or GR. Five women who used clomiphene citrate (CC) 100mg/d x 5 days were involved in a study of serum pregesterone (P) and endometrial histology in early luteal phase. There was no difference in serum P level in two groups. Three cases in CC group showed abnormal secretory endometrium. PR concentration in the nuclei of glandular cells of endometrium in CC group was significantly lower than that in the control group. In women with abnormal secretory endometrium, PR concentration in the nuclei of glandular cells was lower than that in women with normal endometrial histology. CC can influence endometrial histology by changing-PR concentration in the nuclei of glandular cells. The endometrium can not respond to the stimulus of P at normal levels and thus results in luteal phase defect.