Summary
The activities of 5 arylamidases were measured in the hypothalamicand cortical region
of testosterone and estrogen treated rats as well as of untreated controls. There
were no significant differences between the enzyme activities in the two regions.
The changes in hypothalamic enzyme activities were always parallel to those of their
respective cortical regions.
The hypothalamic arylamidases of female rats, treated with 0.1 mg testosterone and
sacrificed at 45 days of age, showed the following results at different stages of
the estrous cycle:
In diestrus, minimal and non-significant differences existed between the hypothalamic
enzyme activities of the treated and the control rats. In estrus, the hypothalamic
arylamidase activities of Ala, Phe, Tyr and Cys significantly decreased. In proestrus,
there were significant decreases in the arylamidase activities of Phe, Tyr and Cys.
In the 45 day old treated female in which the vaginal opening had not occurred, the
hypothalamic arylamidase activities of Ala, Phe and Glu were significantly elevated.
Female rats which had received 1.0 mg testosterone showed a permanent estrus, and
at 45 days of age only the Ala-arylamidase activity was seen to increase in these
animals. When estrogen (0.1 mg) was given to female rats, a significant decrease in
arylamidase activity was seen.
The 45 day old male rats neonatally treated with 0.1 mg of testosterone exhibited
no significant changes in the arylamidase activity. However, when 1.0 mg of the hormone
was administered to the males, the arylamidase activities of Ala and Glu were significantly
increased. Male rats treated with estrogen (0.1 mg) showed an increased arylamidase
activity.
Key-Words
Arylamidase
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Hypothalamus
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Estradiol
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Testosterone
