RESUMO
Oestradiol acts both as a mitogen and as an inducer of differentiation of target cells. The cellular responses to oestradiol are generally mediated through the regulation of gene expression, although nongenomic modes of action are also documented. The present observations show that the regulation of keratin gene expression in rat vaginal epithelial cells is under the influence of oestradiol. It is observed that oestradiol regulates both the qualitative and quantitative expressions of keratin polypeptides in a time dependent and sequence specific manner. These regulatory effects are the result of modulations in transcriptional, post-transcriptional and translational processes of these genes, brought about by the hormone in vaginal epithelial cells.