Estrogens biochemical actions

The uterus and vagina are sensitive to the biochemical actions of estrogens, which are as follows ... 

Mendelsohn ME (2000) Mechanisms of estrogen action in the cardiovascular system. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 74 337-343... 

Jordan VC, Gosden B (1983) Differential antiestrogen action in the immature rat uterus a comparison of hydroxylated antiestrogens with high affinity for the estrogen receptor. J Steroid Biochem 19 1249-1258... 

If we wish to find the point of hormone action in terms of a pacemaker step in a chain reaction sequence, it is imperative that we be able to define rather precisely the nature of the successive steps involved which terminate in the response otherwise we should soon be in a position where we would not be able to interpret the significance of isolated effects studied without relation to the total picture. Indeed, to the extent that the underlying sequence of reactions is understood, it has been possible to approach the problem of hormone mechanisms. From this statement, it is therefore not surprising that insulin action, which involves carbohydrate metabolism, is best understood, whereas the mechanism of estrogen action to produce growth and differentiation in uterus and vagina (where the biochemical sequences involved are almost completely unknown) is still relatively obscure (c/. the review of Roberts and Szego, 1953). 

The existence of this type of genetic mechanism of action of estrogens on histological and biochemical processes in the uterus... 

Thus, the concept that estrogens may exert their stimulatory action on the uterus by activation of RNA synthesis has been developed by several lines of biochemical investigation. The evidence includes the observation that estrogen stimulation leads quickly to an increase in the rate of incorporation of precursors into RNA with the initial increase noted in the nuclear fraction of RNA, that RNA polymerase activity in uterine cells is enhanced by estrogen stimulation, that Rie nucleotide sequence of RNA synthesized by uterine nuclei is altered by estrogen, and that specific inhibitors of DNA-dependent RNA synthesis prevent the stimulatory action of estrogen. 

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