Androgens on the estrogen receptor. II--Correlation between nuclear translocation and uterine protein synthesis.

In the immature rat uterus, occupation of the androgen and estrogen receptor sties after injection of 5 alpha dihydrotestosterone (DHT = 17beta - hydroxy-5alpha-androstan-3-one) were compared to the biological responses induced by the androgen on protein synthesis. Injection of 100 mug DHT induced a maximal occupation of androgen receptor sites (RA) but was totally ineffective in translocating the estrogen receptor sites and in increasing general protein synthesis. Conversely, high doses of androgen (greater than or equal to 3 mg) translocated the estrogen receptor (RE) and stimulated general protein synthesis. In addition, these high doses induced a specific uterine protein undistinguishable from that induced by estradiol treatment (IP). These results strongly suggest that the uterotrophic response of the uterus to androgen is correlated with the nuclear transreceptor which is present in much smaller amounts.