[Estrogen-dependent changes in DNA synthesis in the rat adenohypophyseal cells]

Estradiol benzoate injection to intact and ovariectomized rats during four days was accompanied by a marked increase in 3H-thymidine incorporation rate in DNA of incubated adenohypophyses. 17 beta-estradiol addition to the culture medium selectively augmented the lactotropic cell percentage in the primary monolayer culture, undergoing DNA synthesis stage. Possible pathways of mediated and direct estrogen effects on DNA synthesis by adenohypophyseal cells are discussed.