Differential regulation of protein synthesis by estradiol in uterine component tissues.

High resolution two-dimensional gel electrophoresis was used to examine [35S]methionine incorporation into intracellular proteins of the stromal, myometrial, and epithelial tissue fractions of the mouse uterus and into uterine secretory products. This procedure revealed that estradiol promotes preferential synthesis of different proteins in the myometrium, stroma, and epithelium. Conversely, synthesis of some proteins in the myometrial and stromal fractions was depressed by estradiol treatment; estrogen did not appear to depress synthesis of specific proteins in the epithelium. Thus, estradiol treatment influences protein synthesis in each uterine compartment in a different manner. This system provides a useful model to examine hormonal regulation of protein synthesis within different tissue compartments of a target organ.