title: Intracellular concentration of potassium and other elements in vaginal epithelial cells stimulated by estradiol administration.
abstract: Electron probe x-ray microanalysis was used to measure cytoplasmic elemental content (in mmoles/kg dry weight) of the basal layer of cells of the vaginal epithelium of ovariectomized rats. Measurements were made both before estradiol injection and at 2 hr, 17 hr, and 24 hr after estradiol administration. Mitotic figures first appeared in the basal cell layer at 24 hr. During the course of the study significant time-dependent differences were seen in the content of all elements mesured. A pattern of change in cytoplasmic content was seen for Na, P, S, and Cl; all of which decrease significantly by 17 hr and then return to approximately the nonstimulated concentration by 24 hr. On the other hand K, and to a lesser extent Mg, show an early and continued increase in cytoplasmic content after estadiol injection. Thus, the marked increase in the intracytoplasmic content of K in the estradiol treated cells suggests that K, or the ratio of Na to K, may be directly or indirectly involved in growth stimulation.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002369:Castration; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002712:Chlorides / Q000378:metabolism; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000378:metabolism*; D004577:Electron Probe Microanalysis; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D008274:Magnesium / Q000378:metabolism; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000378:metabolism; D011188:Potassium / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D012964:Sodium / Q000378:metabolism; D013455:Sulfur / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D014621:Vagina / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D002712:Chlorides; D010758:Phosphorus; D004958:Estradiol; D013455:Sulfur; D012964:Sodium; D008274:Magnesium; D011188:Potassium