Hormonal Regulation of Gap Junction Proteins and Estrogen Receptor Activation Factors in the Rat Uterus

The present study examines the hormonal regulation of the syntheses of gap junction proteins and estrogen receptor activation factors in the rat uterus. Ovariectomy and the depletion of estradiol from the system exerted negative influence on the synthesis of both the proteins. At the same time exposure of the ovariectomized rats to exogenous estradiol resulted in the restoration of protein synthesis back to the control level. A transient peak in the synthesis of the two proteins was observed on day 2 following ovariectomy. This increased activity was not observed in rats subjected to adrenalectomy along with ovariectomy. Furthermore, exposure of the ovariectomized plus adrenalectomized rats to progesterone clearly emphasized the point that the increase in the protein synthesis observed on day 2 post-ovariectomy was due to progesterone released from the adrenals. The results are indicative of a bi-hormonal involvement in the control of the syntheses of the two proteins, estrogen receptor activation factors and gap junction proteins in the rat uterus.