Effect of digitoxin on vaginal epithelial differentiation in the Balb/c mouse

Vaginal epithelial differentiation (VED) in the mouse and the human is the replacement of columnar by squamous epithelium in the vagina. This occurs in humans in late first and second trimesters of pregnancy and in mice after birth. In both diethylstilbestrol (DES) exposure during the process is associated with persistence of columnar epithelium and later reproductive tract tumor. Cardiac glycosides are estrogenic in both species. The concern: could cardiac glycosides produce similar effects to those seen after DES? Digitoxin was administered to Balb/c neonates at increasing doses. VED occurred by 10 days in three low-dose groups. Cardiotoxic mortality precluded study at higher doses. Therefore digitoxin did not affect VED.