THE EFFECT OF ESTRADIOL-17β ON THE EPITHELIUM IN THE MOUSE VAGINAL ANLAGE

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Abstract
The result of estrogen Injections on the vaginal epithelium in young mice was studied. Three varied estradiol doses were given: 0.1 [mu]g, 1[mu]g, and 5 [mu]g. The injections were given every day for 5 days after birth. They did not Influence the derivation of the vaginal epithelium as seen by autoradiographic studies. The mtillerian epithelium in the cranial part of the vaginal anlage differentiated into a basal and a superficial zone as it did in untreated animals. The basal zone, however, underwent hyperplasia and with the largest dose, 5 [mu]g daily, cornification. The superficial zone was then sloughed. The sinus epithelium also cornified. With smaller doses, the basal zone also underwent a hyperplasia but differentiated into a squamous epithelium. The results of this investigation Indicate that both the sinus epithelium and the mtillerian epithelium are able, after estrogen treatment, to produce a vaginal or squamous response in the sense of Zuckerman [1940].