Spermidine N1-acetyltransferase activity in rat uterus after 17 beta-estradiol and during the estrous cycle.

The administration of 17 beta-estradiol to ovariectomized rats stimulated in uterus the activity of spermidine N1-acetyltransferase, the rate-limiting enzyme in the polyamine interconversion pathway. Such a stimulation was largely prevented by cycloheximide and actinomycin D, which indicates that it was due to an enzyme induction. During the estrous cycle, uterine enzyme activity was highest at proestrus and lowest at estrus, when estrogen plasma levels are known to be high and low, respectively. The induction of the enzyme was associated with the appearance or an increase in N1-acetylspermidine in uterus. The results suggest that estrogens regulate spermidine N1-acetyltransferase activity in uterus.