1. The nuclear-myofibrilar (800g pellet) fraction of the uterus from immature (22-23 days old) rats not exposed to oestrogen exhibits saturable binding of oestradiol. The nuclear binding capacity represents approximately 10% of that of the cytosol fraction (approx. 3.5 fmol/mug of DNA). The predominant part (0.3.5 fmol/mug of DNA) of the nuclear binind sites are present in the residual pellet after extraction with 0.5 M-KC1. 2. By using an exchange technique in vitro, determinations of the nuclear binding sites have been carried out after administration of 1 mug of oestradiol in vivo. Within 0.5h after the hormone injection, the concentration of nuclear bindng sites increased to approx. 0.4 fmol/mug of DNA in the 0.5 M-KC1-extractable fraction, and to approx. 1.2 fmol/mug of DNA in the residual fraction. Meanwhile the cytosol oestrogen-receptor concentration decreased to approx. 10% of its initial value. In the following period from 0.5 h after the oestradiol injection onwards, the concentration of nuclear oestrogen receptors decreased with halflife values of approx. 140 and 200 min for the KC1(0.5 M)-extractable and residual form respectively. At the same time, the cytosol receptor concentration increased to reach approx. 50% of the initial value by the 6h. This increase could not be blocked by cycloheximide. The initial concentration of cytosol receptor was restored approx. 11h after the injection and the increase during the 6-11h period was sensitive to cycloheximide inhibition, suggesting protein-synthesis-dependence of the process. 3. With the (more) physiological dose of oestradiol (0.1 mug), the decrease the cytosol receptor was only 50% by 4h and this was followed by a period (up to 12h after injection) during which the initial concentration was restored. During this period the increase of the receptor can be blocked by cycloheximide.
