17 beta-estradiol: inducer of uterine hexokinase.

Administration of estradiol to ovariectomized rats induced new synthesis of uterine hexokinase which was prevented by actinomycin D, 5-fluorouracil, cycloheximide, or ethionine. The estradiol-induced increase in uterine hexokinase activity was detectable as early as 4 hours. The increase in enzyme activity was dependent upon the dose of the hormone. The evidence indicates that the increased hexokinase activity induced by 17beta-estradiol may entail an acceleration of the synthesis of certain RNA species.