Oestrogen receptors and oestrogen-induced protein synthesis in the uterus of diabetic rats.

The present study was undertaken to examine whether the diabetic state influenced the early stages of oestrogen action in the uterus. Ovariectomized streptozotocin diabetic rats were given intravenous infusions of oestradiol-17 B one day to 4-7 months after the initiation of diabetes. Oestradiol was taken up to a similar extent (on a wet weight basis) by the uteri of diabetic and control animals. Oestradiol receptor levels were similar in the cytosol of control and diabetic rats (1.06 +/- 0.19 and 1.01 +/- 0.27 pmol/uterus respectively). Nuclear translocation of the receptor complex under the influence of oestradiol infusion occurred similarly in both groups. The stimulation of a specific oestrogen-induced protein in the uteri occurred at a similar rate in both groups from one day to 4-7 months after the onset of diabetes. Thus streptozotocin diabetes of short to long duration does not interfere with the early stages of oestrogen action.