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This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 67/6/1919    most recent biolreprod.102.003392v1 Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Pillai, S. B. Articles by Koos, R. D. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Pillai, S. B. Articles by Koos, R. D. Agricola Articles by Pillai, S. B. Articles by Koos, R. D.

Treatment of Rats with 17ß-Estradiol or Relaxin Rapidly Inhibits Uterine Estrogen Receptor ß1 and ß2 Messenger Ribonucleic Acid Levels¹

^a Department of Physiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21201

Estrogen regulates the growth and differentiation of the uterus via binding to estrogen receptors (ERs), members of the nuclear receptor family of transcription factors. Two forms of ER exist: ER and ERß. The former is a well-characterized mediator of estrogen-induced transcription, but the function of the latter is unclear. Recent in vitro studies suggest that both splicing forms of ERß expressed in rat tissues, ß1 and ß2, may function as inhibitors of ER transcriptional activity. To gain insight into the role of ERß in estrogen action, we examined the effects of estrogen and relaxin, a ligand-independent activator of ERs, on the expression of ERß1 and ERß2 mRNA in the uterus in vivo. Eighteen-day-old female rats were ovariectomized and, after recovery, treated with 17ß-estradiol, relaxin, or vehicle. Quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analyses of uterine RNA from estrogen-treated animals revealed marked decreases in the steady-state levels of the mRNAs for both ERß1 and ERß2 at 3, 6, and 24 h after treatment. Relaxin induced a similar effect. Neither hormone had any significant effect on ER mRNA levels. To determine if endogenous estrogen exerts this effect, we examined the expression of ERßs in the uterus during the estrous cycle. Levels of both isoforms were highest at diestrus (low estrogen), were significantly lower at early proestrus (rising estrogen), reached a nadir during late proestrus (peak estrogen), and rebounded at estrus (declining estrogen). These data suggest that down-regulation of ERß expression may be required for estrogen to exert its full trophic effects on the uterus.

¹ This research was supported by NCI/NIH grant CA45055 and by NICHD/NIH cooperative agreement U54 HD36207 as part of the Specialized Cooperative Centers Program in Reproduction Research. J.M.J. was supported by NICHD/NIH T32 HD07170. A preliminary report of this work was presented at The Endocrine Society's 81st Annual Meeting, June 12–15, 1999, San Diego, CA.

² Correspondence: Robert D. Koos, Department of Physiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 655 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD 21201-1559. FAX: 410 706 8341; rkoos{at}umaryland.edu

³ S.B.P. and J.M.J. contributed equally and should be considered co-first authors