Changes in submaxillary gland protein and nucleic acids after ethionine administration

Ethionine administration (300 or 600 mglkg daily for 5 or 11 days) produced significant reductions in submaxillary protein levels in normal mice. These reductions were not observed in these same tissues obtained from castrated mice treated with testosterone. Ethionine-induced changes in submaxillary ribonucleic acid (RNA) were also evident.

Effect of reserpine on prostate gland fructose

Small doses of reserpine (2.5 or 5 μg/day for 2, 5 or 11 days) caused significant elevations in fructose levels in the prostate glands of normal mice. This effect was not seen in the castrate mouse. In castrates given 50 μg/day of testosterone, reserpine did increase prostatic fructose levels, but less markedly than in intact mice. Adrenalectomized mice also responded to reserpine less markedly than intact animals.

The stimulatory actions of reserpine on sex accessory fructose depends upon both the dose and duration of administration of this alkaloid. These stimulatory actions of reserpine on sex accessory organs occur prior to any loss in testicular weight and might be related to the synergistic activities of ACTH and/or prolactin on prostatic tissue.

Trace-metal requirements of NCTC clone 929 strain L cells

The effects of iron, zinc, copper, manganese, and Methocel on the growth of L cells in a synthetic medium were studied. The medium was iron-deficient unless a supplement of 1.0 g/liter Methocel HG (4,000 centipoises), Methocel ash equivalent to 1.0 g/liter Methocel, or 1.0 microM FeSO4 was added. Cells grew faster in the presence of FeSO4 or Methocel ash (generation time = 40 hours) than of Methocel (generation time = 110 hours), but Methocel was needed to protect cells from mechanical destruction. Treating the growth medium with Dowex A-1 chelating resin produced a medium deficient in both iron and zinc. The iron requirement in this medium varied between 0.6 and 1.4 microM, depending on the concentrations of other cations added to the medium. A copper concentration of at least 0.4 microM was beneficial as it reduced the amount of iron necessary for cell growth. No manganese was required in this medium; any added manganese produced an inhibition of cell growth. Additional iron could reverse this inhibition. The minimum iron requirement for the production of L cells was 3 nmoles/mg cell nitrogen produced. Approximately 0.6 microM zinc was required for maximum cell growth in resin-treated medium.

Further studies on the influence of oestrogens on androgen dependent fructose formation in sex accessory organs

Testosterone alone had a stimulating effect on the fructose formation in castrate mice, but the combined treatment of testosterone and oestrogen caused significant reductions in anterior prostate levels of this carbohydrate. Oestrogens were more effective in counteracting the action of testosterone when injected early rather than late after castration. Ethynyl oestradiol and oestradiol benzoate were more effective in counteracting testosterone than other oestrogens studied. There was a greater reduction in fructose levels when lower doses of injected testosterone were simultaneously administered with oestrogen(s).

In the seminal vesicles a synergistic action between testosterone and various oestrogens on fructose levels was commonly observed, though antagonism is also evident. Increasing the period of time between castration and initial injection appeared to enhance the synergistic actions of the two hormones.