Further characterization of hormonal regulation of glutathione transferase in rat liver and adrenal glands. Sex differences and demonstration that growth hormone regulates the hepatic levels

Biochem J. 1992 Aug 15;286 ( Pt 1)(Pt 1):65-72. doi: 10.1042/bj2860065.

Abstract

Immunoblot experiments and reverse-phase h.p.l.c. were used to study the levels of glutathione transferase subunits 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7 and 8 in the liver and adrenal of intact and hypophysectomized male and female Sprague-Dawley rats. A sexual dimorphism in the levels of several of these isoenzymes and in their responses to hypophysectomy was demonstrated. In the liver of sham-operated females and males there are differences in glutathione transferase activities and isoenzyme pattern. H.p.l.c. analysis showed higher levels of subunits 1, 3 and 4 in male rats compared with females. In contrast with the pronounced sex differences in sham-operated rats, the isoenzyme patterns of hypophysectomized males and females were very similar. In the adrenal glands, however, a sexual dimorphism became apparent only after hypophysectomy, when the level of subunit 4 was increased 14-fold in the female, whereas the corresponding increase in the male rat was only 2.7-fold. The hepatic pattern of glutathione transferase subunits could be altered by continuous infusion of growth hormone to both sham-operated and hypophysectomized rats of both sexes. This treatment feminized the isoenzyme pattern in sham-operated males and a similar effect was obtained upon treating hypophysectomized rats with thyroxine, cortisone acetate and a continuous infusion of growth hormone.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adrenal Glands / drug effects
  • Adrenal Glands / enzymology*
  • Animals
  • Cortisone / analogs & derivatives
  • Cortisone / pharmacology
  • Cytosol / enzymology
  • Female
  • Glutathione Transferase / isolation & purification
  • Glutathione Transferase / metabolism*
  • Growth Hormone / pharmacology*
  • Growth Hormone / physiology
  • Hypophysectomy*
  • Isoenzymes / isolation & purification
  • Isoenzymes / metabolism*
  • Liver / drug effects
  • Liver / enzymology*
  • Macromolecular Substances
  • Male
  • Rats
  • Rats, Inbred Strains
  • Reference Values
  • Sex Characteristics
  • Stilbenes / metabolism
  • Thyroxine / pharmacology
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Isoenzymes
  • Macromolecular Substances
  • Stilbenes
  • Growth Hormone
  • Glutathione Transferase
  • stilbene oxide
  • Thyroxine
  • Cortisone