Ultrastructural evidence for the stimulation of nuclear ribonucleic acid synthesis by oestradiol-17β in the vaginal epithelium of the ovariectomized mouse

The cytochemical nature of the ultrastructural nucleolar transformation previously observed in the vaginal epithelium of the ovariectomized mouse after local application of oestradiol-17β was investigated using a recently developed ultrastructural staining technique. Oestradiol treatment induced ribonucleic acid (RNA) synthesis, especially in the nucleolus but also in the nuclear chromatic region and ribosomes. Actinomycin D administered simultaneously with oestradiol reduced the oestrogen-induced nucleolar response to the control level. These findings are discussed with special reference to the mode of action of oestrogens.