Oestradiol-induced synthesis of a specific uterine protein in propranolol-treated rats

While there is conflicting evidence concerning an effect of oestradiol on uterine cyclic AMP concentration, results from different laboratories (including ours) are in agreement that even when observed, the early increase in uterine cyclic AMP after oestradiol injection fails to occur when propranolol, a beta-adrenergic blocking agent, is given (50 mug, i.p.) 20 min before the oestradiol. The present work shows that pretreatment with propranolol failed to inhibit an early uterine response to oestradiol, namely the synthesis after 1 h of uterine protein, or class of proteins, IP. It is concluded that the induction of IP by oestradiol does not depend on an increase in uterine cyclic AMP concentration and that beta-adrenergic receptors do not have a role in this oestrogenic response.