THE INFLUENCE OF OVARIAN HORMONES ON THE ENZYMIC ACTIVITIES OF TISSUES*

Abstract

ANUMBER of years ago Fishman (1944, 1947a) reported that ovariectomy in the mouse resulted in a marked decrease in the β-glucuronidase activity of the uterus and that this effect could be reversed by subsequent treatment of the animals with estrogens. On the basis of these observations Fishman proposed that the β-glucuronidase of the uterus was concerned with the metabolism of estrin in this organ and suggested that the enzyme might be involved in “metabolic conjugation” of this hormone. Kerr, Levvy and Campbell (1947) reported a relationship between mitosis and glucuronidase activity in a wide variety of tissues and suggested that the glucuronidase activity of a tissue was a reflection of growth in that tissue. In accord with this theory Levvy, Kerr and Campbell (1948) have attributed the increased β-glucuronidase activity in the liver, kidney and spleen of animals fed menthol or borneol (Fishman, 1940) as associated with growth changes following the damaging effects of these agents.