C-rasH and ornithine decarboxylase are induced by oestradiol-17β in the mouse uterine luminal epithelium independently of the proliferative status of the cell

Oestradiol-17 β (E 2) treatment of the ovariectomized mouse results in a synchronised wave of cell proliferation in the uterine luminal epithelium. At the peak of DNA synthesis the mRNA level of the c-ras H protooncogene and ornithine decarboxylase were significantly increased. Progesterone treatment completely inhibits the E 2 induced wave of DNA synthesis but does not greatly influence the level of these 2 mRNAs. Thus in the uterine luminal epithelium E 2 regulates the level of ornithine decarboxylase and c-ras H independently of cell proliferation.