Estrogen modulates HNF-3 beta mRNA levels in the developing chick oviduct

Steriod hormones are involved in many physiological processes, including ti ssue specific gene expression, homeostasis, and development. The chick ovid uct represents an excellent system in which to study many of these events, as it is highly steriod responsive. Here, we report the cloning of chick HN F-3 beta from an oviduct cDNA library and its expression pattern in adult t issues and in the developing oviduct in response to estrogen treatment. Ove rall, cHNF-3 beta was expressed at high levels in the immature chick oviduc t and lung and, to a lesser extent, in the liver, kidney, and muscle. This expression pattern is divergent from that of mammalian HNF-3 beta, which is not expressed in kidney or muscle. Furthermore, several lengths of cHNF-3 beta mRNA transcripts were detected that were expressed tissue specifically . Interestingly, cHNF-3 beta mRNA levels were differentially influenced by estrogen as a result of a post-transcriptional effect on the cHNF-3 beta me ssage in some tissues. Finally, a role for cHNF-3 beta is proposed in the e strogen-stimulated differentiation and development of the oviduct, as cHNF- 3 beta mRNA expression is induced in the early stages of oviduct developmen t and declines as the animal becomes sexually mature.