The mechanism of the action of androgenic hormones on mouse-liver catalase

Abstract

All the substances tested produced depressions of catalase activity, approximately proportional to dosage, usually followed by a return to normal after a few days. Catalase losses are probably of a nonspecific nature, and it is suggested that they may be due to hydrogen peroxide produced during the metabolism of the injected material. Cysteine, thiourea and 3-methyldimethylaminoazobenzene caused losses in catalase activity without markedly affecting the intracellular-catalase distribution. Males and females have a different intracellular catalase distribution. In males the granule/extraparticulate-cytoplasmic distribution ratio is about 3:3, in females it is about 4:9. A nitrogen mustard altered the catalase distribution ratio in males and females to the same value, intermediate between their normal values. 17-Methyltestosterone injected into females caused a change in the catalase distribution ratio to the male value. Testosterone behaved similarly, but the distribution ratio was altered to a point intermediate between the male and female values. 17-Methyltestosterone injected into males did not affect the distribution ratio. It is concluded that the catalase levels in the granules and extraparticulate cytoplasm are interdependent; that catalase probably migrates from the granules into the extraparticulate cytoplasm; and that androgenic hormones influence the rate of migration in a way which suggests that they increase the permeability of the granule membranes to catalase.