Abstract
Summary
Hypophysial RNA in the female rat was found to fluctuate during the estrous cycle. Pituitary RNA levels were highest at proestrus and lowest at diestrus 1. The concentration of pituitary RNA and the RNA/DNA ration decreased after ovariectomy. Estradiol (1 μg/day) restored the hypophysial RNA/DNA ratio of ovariectomized rats to a level comparable to that of cyclic females, whereas progesterone (1 mg/day) had no effect. It was concluded that the elevation in pituitary RNA at proestrus can be attributed to estrogen stimulation and that a certain portion of pituitary RNA is estrogen dependent.
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