ESTRADIOL REGULATED KERATIN GENE-EXPRESSION IN RAT VAGINAL EPITHELIAL-CELLS

Oestradiol acts both as a mitogen and as an inducer of differentiation of target cells. The cellular responses to oestradiol are generally m ediated through the regulation of gene expression, although nongenomic modes of action are also documented, The present observations show th at the regulation of keratin gene expression in rat vaginal epithelial cells is under the influence of oestradiol, It is observed that oestr adiol regulates both the qualitative and quantitative expressions of k eratin polypeptides in a time dependent and sequence specific manner. These regulatory effects are the result of modulations in transcriptio nal, post-transcriptional and translational processes of these genes, brought about by the hormone in vaginal epithelial cells.