Estrous cycle dependent regulation of peptidylarginine deiminase transcripts in female rat pituitary.

Northern blot hybridization demonstrated 4.5-5.0 kilobase peptidylarginine deiminase mRNA in poly (A)+ RNA-enriched fractions of both male and female pituitaries. Dot blot analysis of total RNA fractions showed more than 50-fold sex difference in the mRNA content. The female pituitary mRNA content showed at least a 50-fold variation during the estrous cycle characterized by elevation at diestrus and proestrus followed by a rapid decline at estrus. The data were discussed in comparison with the sex difference and estrous cycle dependence of the pituitary enzyme content reported previously.