ADENYLATE CYCLASE ACTIVITY IN MOUSE VAGINAL EPITHELIUM. AGE RELATED CHANGES IN BASAL ENZYME ACTIVITY AND ESTRADIOL SENSITIVITY.

Using neonatal and immature female NMRI mice, age related variations in histochemically demonstrable adenylate cyclase activity were studied in the vaginal epithelium. Basal enzyme activity increased from day 3 to 6 after birth, only later to decrease. Almost no activity was seen on day 14. An estradiol induced increase in enzyme activity occurred in 3- and 6-day-old animals but not in 14-day-old animals. In spite of this difference both neonatal and 14-day-old animals respond to estradiol with an increased amount of a cellular product with antigenic properties specific for the cervicovaginal epithelium. The results are discussed in relation to estrogen induced irreversible effects in the neonatal cervicovaginal epithelium.