NUCLEAR AND CYTOPLASMIC OESTROGEN RECEPTORS IN VAGINAL AND UTERINE TISSUE OF MICE TREATED NEONATALLY WITH STEROIDS AND PROLACTIN

Abstract

SUMMARY Neonatal treatment of female mice with oestrogen or androgen induces persistent vaginal cornification, which may be dependent or independent of ovarian hormones according to the amount administered. The concentration of oestrogen-binding protein in the cytoplasm and in the nuclear fraction was measured in the uterus and vagina of mice treated neonatally with either steroid alone or in combination with prolactin. Vaginal oestrogen responsiveness (dependence) of mice treated with low and high doses of steroids was correlated with oestrogen receptor content. Neonatal treatment with prolactin in combination with the low dosage steroid treatments favoured development of ovary-independent cornification and a concomitant decrease in oestrogen receptors in about 50% of the mice studied.