Induction of hyaluronic acid synthetase by estrogen in the mouse skin.

Hyaluronic acid synthetase activity was measured in male mouse skin following the topical application of estradiol in vivo. The enzyme activity increased in parallel with the hyaluronic acid content of the skin, and showed a similar response in the skin of ovariectomized female mice. The increase in enzyme activity was reduced by the anti-estrogen agents, tamoxifene citrate and clomiphene citrate, which block competitively the binding of estrogen to the estrogen receptor. The increase in hyaluronic acid synthetase activity was also reduced by topical application of cycloheximide or by subcutaneous injection of actinomycin D. The results suggest that the stimulation of hyaluronic acid synthesis in mouse skin in response to estrogen treatment is mediated through estrogen receptors and involves the induction of the enzyme hyaluronic acid synthetase.