Estrogen plays a vital role in the function of numerous tissues including the uterus and oviduct. Elucidation of the molecular mechanisms of estrogen action will enable us to further understand reproductive function in both the normal and pathological state. Although much information regarding the activation of gene expression by estrogen has been collected, comparatively less information is available regarding the negative effects of estrogen on transcription. Data presented herein detail the effects of estrogen on the transcription of bone morphogenetic protein-7 (cBMP-7) in the chick oviduct, an extremely estrogen-responsive tissue. Transcription of the cBMP-7 gene is repressed by estrogen, which occurs within eight hours following estrogen treatment, indicating an inverse relationship between estrogen and cBMP-7 gene expression. During normal reproductive cycles, decreasing estrogen levels trigger a complex set of events that ultimately lead to the physical regression of the oviduct. However, the molecular mediators linking these events have not been identified. Our studies revealed that estrogen-withdrawal initiates a sequence of events leading to stimulation of the cBMP-7 gene and the induction of programmed cell death (apoptosis) in the oviduct. Additionally, purified BMP-7 directly triggers apoptosis of the oviduct, although the mechanisms are unknown. Furthermore, the expression of key intracellular mediators of apoptosis is also stimulated by estrogen-withdrawal at the transcriptional level, including caspase-1 and caspase-2. This indicates that estrogen-withdrawal can affect multiple pathways simultaneously, orchestrating a complex response leading to the regression of the oviduct. Future studies will focus on determining how these pathways coordinate to achieve regression of the oviduct.