Summary
A single, 75 mg per kg body weight, dose of Streptozotocin elevated the hepatic glucocorticoid
(cortisol) sulfotransferase activity in intact male rats very extensively. The enzyme
activity doubled within 10 to 11 days after administration of the diabetogenic drug.
Maximum, 300-375%, increases of the sulfotransferase activity were obtained by 20
to 25 days after Streptozotocin was given. These persisted for at least 33 to 38 days
after its administration. The effect was shown to be due to the elevation of the concentrations
of all three rat liver glucocorticoid Sulfotransferases (STI, STII, and STIII). The
relative amounts of these enzymes in experimental animals were 22.5 ± 6.1, 30.3 ±
12, and 46.2 ± 12%, respectively, 26 to 38 days after Streptozotocin. The values obtained
in untreated controls were 0, 10.1 ± 6.1, and 82.2 ± 12%. Repeated administration
of insulin to streptozotocin-treated rats produced animals whose livers contained
much less glucocorticoid sulfotransferase activity than livers from streptozotocin-treated
rats which did not receive the hormone. This pointed out that insulin either prevented
or reversed the effect of the drug on the sulfotranferases. The potential relationship
between the glucocorticoid Sulfotransferases, diabetes, and hypertension is discussed
in the text.
Key-Words:
Streptozotocin
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Rats
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Enzyme Activity
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Insulin
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Diabetes
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Hypertension
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Glucocorticoid Sulfation
