The rabbit endometrium is an excellent model system allowing experimental manipulation of aminopeptidase N (APN) mRNA expression in vivo. By RNase mapping and sequencing of cloned PCR-amplified primer-extended RNA, it was demonstrated that endometrial APN expression is directed by the epithelial APN promoter and is increased in human-choriogonadotropin-induced pseudopregnancy. Cloning and sequencing of the rabbit APN epithelial promoter revealed conservation of the upstream footprint (UF), hepatocyte nuclear factor-1 (HNF1) and Sp1 elements known to be present in the pig and human promoters as well. The pseudopregnancy-induced APN expression was found to be accompanied by a parallel increase in the level of the transcription factor HNF1 beta, whereas a much smaller increase in Sp1 and UF-binding proteins was observed. This indicates that HNF1 beta acts as a switch triggering the pregnancy-induced APN expression. The sequence of the UF element suggests members of the nuclear hormone-receptor superfamily as possible UF-binding proteins, and competition experiments suggest that the chicken ovalbumin upstream promoter transcription factor functions as such in the rabbit endometrium.