Nucleoside incorporation as a function of hormone levels during the early phases of estrogen-induced genesis of medullary bone in the Japanese quail, Coturnix coturnix.

The sequence of changes in RNA synthesis during the early phases of genesis of medullary bone induced in male Japanese quail by estrogen treatment was studied by 3H-uridine uptake. Analyses of plasma estrogen and testosterone were done by radioimmunoassay at 12, 24, 38 and 61 h. A dose of 5 mg kg-1 estradiol-17 beta was found to stimulate the same 3H-uridine uptake 15 h after hormone treatment as a dose of 20 mg kg-1 of estradiol valerate. The uptake of 3H-uridine rose as the dose of estradiol-17 beta increased. Plasma estrogen levels, which were highest 12 h after injection, declined sharply during the next 12 h, returning to control levels between 38 and 61 h. Testosterone levels declined after estrogen administration and remained below control values at all time points. Following estrogen administration, 3H-uridine uptake declined from control values for the first 8 h. Twelve hours after hormone administration control levels were again reached, with maximum 3H-uridine uptake occurring 16 h after hormone treatment. The 16-h maximum was followed by a steady decline to below control levels at 20, 24 and 28 h, the time at which the experiment was discontinued. Maximum 3H-uridine uptake following estrogen stimulation is similar to that observed for the stimulated immature rat uterus.