c-rasH and ornithine decarboxylase are induced by oestradiol-17 beta in the mouse uterine luminal epithelium independently of the proliferative status of the cell.

Oestradiol-17 beta (E2) treatment of the ovariectomized mouse results in a synchronised wave of cell proliferation in the uterine luminal epithelium. At the peak of DNA synthesis the mRNA level of the c-rasH proto-oncogene and ornithine decarboxylase were significantly increased. Progesterone treatment completely inhibits the E2 induced wave of DNA synthesis but does not greatly influence the level of these 2 mRNAs. Thus in the uterine luminal epithelium E2 regulates the level of ornithine decarboxylase and c-rasH independently of cell proliferation.