Estrogen causes dynamic alterations in endothelial estrogen receptor expression.

Estrogen receptor (ER)alpha mediates many of the effects of estrogen on the vascular endothelium. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether estrogen modifies endothelial ERalpha expression. In experiments in cultured ovine endothelial cells, physiological concentrations of 17beta-estradiol (E2, 10(-10) to 10(-8) mol/L) caused an increase in ERalpha protein abundance that was evident after 6 hours of hormone exposure.