title: 5-aminolevulinate synthase mRNA levels in the Harderian gland of Syrian hamsters: correlation with porphyrin concentrations and regulation by androgens and melatonin.
abstract: The levels of 5-aminolevulinate synthase mRNA were investigated in the Harderian glands of male and female Syrian hamsters by using a cDNA clone from rat liver. Female hamsters showed higher levels of mRNA than those in males, while the administration of testosterone to female hamsters led to a reduction in mRNA levels. Castration of male hamsters caused a marked elevation of mRNA levels, whereas both the exposure to constant darkness or melatonin injections to castrated males partially prevented the effects of castration. Porphyrin concentration of Harderian glands showed a strong correlation with the mRNA levels of 5-aminolevulinate synthase in all the animals studied. These results lead to the conclusion that in this system, porphyrin metabolism is controlled through hormonal regulation of 5-aminolevulinate synthase gene expression.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Morfologia y Biologia Cellular, Universidad de Oviedo, Spain.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Menendez-Pelaez
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rodriguez
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dominguez
mesh_terms: D000624:5-Aminolevulinate Synthetase / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D006224:Cricetinae; D005260:Female; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D006243:Harderian Gland / Q000201:enzymology*; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000502:physiology*; D008647:Mesocricetus; D011166:Porphyrins / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D013739:Testosterone / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D011166:Porphyrins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D013739:Testosterone; D000624:5-Aminolevulinate Synthetase; D008550:Melatonin