Although bone resorption is accelerated with menopause, the means by which diminished circulating 17 beta-estradiol (E2) promotes osteoclastic activity are unknown. We hypothesized that since the integrin alpha v beta 3 is essential to the resorptive process, reduced E2 levels may increase the integrin's expression by osteoclast precursors. Thus, avian osteoclast precursors (known to contain E2 receptors) were exposed +/- E2, surface iodinated, and lysed. The lysate was immunoprecipitated with an antibody recognizing the intact alpha v beta 3 heterodimer. We find E2 alone fails to impact on alpha v beta 3 expression. Most importantly, however, picomolar (i.e. post-menopausal), but not nanomolar (i.e. premenopausal) concentrations of E2, when added in conjunction with 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25-(OH)2D3], enhance alpha v beta 3 expression on the plasma membrane of avian osteoclast precursors relative to 1,25(OH)2D3 alone. Induction of alpha v beta 3 by picomolar levels of E2 is dose-dependent, maximizing at 10(-11)-10(-12) M, wherein the sex steroid enhances 1,25-(OH)2-D3-stimulated integrin expression approximately 2.5-fold. Northern analysis reveals that beta 3 mRNA levels parallel those of alpha v beta 3. E2 (10(-12) M) increases expression of beta 3 mRNA induced by a range of 1,25-(OH)2D3 concentrations extending from 10(-10) m-10(-8) M. The E2 + 1,25-(OH)2D3 additive effect on beta 3 mRNA appears as early as 1 day of treatment and progresses for at least 3 days. Consistent with evidence that the beta 3 subunit regulates heterodimer expression, the sex steroid does not impact alpha v mRNA.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)