Steroid hormone content in the submandibular gland of normal and pregnant rats

Influence of testosterone on gene expression in the ovariectomized mouse submandibular gland

Androgens exert significant effects on the murine submandibular gland. Our objective in this study was to determine the nature and extent of testosterone regulation of gene expression in the female submandibular gland, and to explore the degree to which this control is the same as in male glands. Ovariectomized female BALB/c mice were treated with placebo- or testosterone-containing hormone pellets for 14 d. Glands were collected and total RNA was isolated. Samples were analyzed for differential expression of mRNA using CodeLink microarrays, and the data were evaluated using genesifter. Testosterone significantly influenced the expression of over 500 genes, and while many (n = 214) of the genes were similarly differentially expressed in androgen-treated males, there were also many that were unique. These findings support our hypotheses that testosterone extensively influences gene expression in the female submandibular gland, and that the nature of this influence is variable between sexes.

Progesterone metabolism by major salivary glands of rat--I. Submandibular and sublingual glands

The metabolism of progesterone by the submandibular and sublingual salivary glands of female (nonpregnant and pregnant) and male rats was studied. The metabolism was in both sexes significantly greater in submandibular than in sublingual glands. Sex differences were not seen in sublingual glands but less metabolism was found in homogenates and microsomal fractions of female (nonpregnant and pregnant) submandibular glands compared to that of males. The metabolism did not differ between pregnant and nonpregnant female rats. The metabolites were mainly 5 alpha-pregnane-compounds. On the basis of the metabolites identified it can be concluded that rat submandibular and sublingual glands contain at least 3 alpha-, 3 beta-, 20 alpha- and 20 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, 5 alpha- and 5 beta-steroid hydrogenase and 17 alpha-steroid hydroxylase activity. 5 alpha-steroid hydrogenase activity was significantly higher in all preparations of male submandibular glands than in females. In sublingual glands some enzyme activities showed pregnancy-related decreased.

Sex steroids in the rat submaxillary gland during the estrus cycle

Relatively high progestagen levels were found in female rat submaxillary glands, with a maximum in the proestrus stage at 22 h and 2 minima; in proestrus between 10 and 14 h, and in estrus at 14 h. Estrogen and androgen concentrations in the gland were undetectable during most of the cycle except in the proestrus stage, when the highest level was determined at 14 h for estrogens and at 17 h for androgens.