β-Glucuronidase and cell proliferation

Abstract

The effect of menthol admn. to mice in increasing the beta-glucuronidase activity of liver and kidney was due to its toxic action on these organs. The rise in enzyme activity was associated with an increase in cell proliferation following injury. Menthol had no effect on spleen glucuronidase. Among other substances examined, the following caused changes in glucuronidase in liver or kidney in an analogous fashion to menthol: CHCl3, CCl4, mercuric nitrate, yellow phosphorous, phenylarsenoxide, ur-anyl acetate, menthol glucuronide and sulfathiazole. The effect of CHCl3 on kidney glucuronidase was confined to male mice. Livers from adult mice after sub-total hepatectomy, and spleens, livers and kidneys from infant mice showed high glucuronidase activities.