The effect of progesterone on RNA polymerases in the rat uterus

The effect of progesterone on transcription was investigated in the uterus of the ovariectomized rat. Progesterone rapidly depressed both RNA polymerase A and B activities for up to 6 h after steroid administration. Both enzyme activities returned to control values 24 h after steroid treatment. In contrast, in the estrogen-primed rat uterus, progesterone was capable of stimulating RNA polymerase B activity 30 min after hormone treatment. The cellular entities or mechanisms which progesterone uses to alter transcription in cell nucleus remain to be determined.