EFFECT OF TESTOSTERONE PROPIONATE AND GROWTH HORMONE ON THE ARGINASE AND PHOSPHATASES OF THE ORGANS OF THE MOUSE

Abstract

Mice were castrated at 17- to 19_g. body wt. and 1 mo. later were implanted subcut. with (1) a 14- to 15_mg. pellet of testosterone propionate, (2) injected subcut. with 1.1 rat U./day of growth hormone and (3) treated simultaneously with both hormones for 10-, 20-, and 34-day periods. Testosterone propionate produced the expected marked increase in kidney arginase, small increase in "acid" (pH 5.4) phosphatase and marked decrease in "alkaline" (pH 9.8) phosphatase activities. Growth hormone was ineffective but when administered simultaneously with testosterone propionate, it decreased the arginase-stimulating effect of the androgen to half. The liver enzymes were not affected by either of the hormones. The small increases in liver size were accompanied by proportionate increases in the enzyme activities.