[Estradiol and cell division: evidence for an indirect effect].

Castrated Quails were perfused for 24 h with estradiol-17 beta (E2: 2 ng/mn) through either the jugular vein or the portal vein. The parameters compared included: plasma E2 levels, changes in oviduct weight, DNA and soluble protein content, estrophilin concentration in nuclear preparations of oviducts and progestophilin concentration in the cytosol of oviducts. The cumulative results suggest that: (1) E2 affects the proliferation of cells by an indirect pathway that involve a message generated in the liver. (2) The control of the synthesis of cell-type specific protein required the direct action of E2 at the level of the oviduct cells.