EFFECTS OF ANDROGENS AND ESTROGENS ONβ-GLUCURONIDASE IN INBRED MICE1,2

Abstract

A new low beta-glucuronidase mouse strain,AKR,was studied with liver, kidney, and spleen exhibiting enzyme activity in the range observed for previously reported low-glucuronidase strains of inbred mice. A comparison has been made in one high- glucuronidase strain (I29) and in one low one (C3H) of the effects of castration and the admn. of stilbestrol and testosterone propionate, alone and in combination, on tissue glucuronidase. Testosterone propionate markedly increased kidney beta-glucuronidase in mice of both sexes, intact and castrate, of the I29 and C3H strains. This action was neutralized usually in part and sometimes completely by simultaneously administered stilbestrol. Stilbestrol also increased liver beta-glucuronidase in C3H mice. Following castration of male mice of both strains, seminal vesicle beta-glucuronidase increased. The response of kidney beta-glucuronidase to testosterone propionate differs with the strain of mice employed, and is regularly produced with physiological amts. of testosterone.