title: Hormonal regulation of serum alpha 1-antitrypsin and hepatic alpha 1-antitrypsin mRNA in rats.
abstract: We evaluated the effects of pituitary dependent hormones on alpha 1-antitrypsin in male rats. Hepatic alpha 1-antitrypsin mRNA was measured by in vitro translation and by specific hybridization with a mouse cDNA alpha 1-antitrypsin probe. Hypophysectomy caused a 50-75% decrease in serum elastase inhibitory capacity (measuring functional alpha 1-antitrypsin) and hepatic alpha 1-antitrypsin mRNA content. In hypophysectomized animals, no increase in elastase inhibitory capacity or alpha 1-antitrypsin mRNA levels by translation was found when met-human growth hormone alone or corticosterone, dihydrotestosterone and thyroxine were given together. Growth hormone increased alpha 1-antitrypsin mRNA by hybridization to a small extent. Addition of growth hormone to the combination of corticosterone, dihydrotestosterone, and thyroxine increased serum elastase inhibitory capacity and alpha 1-antitrypsin mRNA. We conclude that growth hormone acts synergistically with the other pituitary dependent hormones to regulate serum and hepatic mRNA levels of alpha 1-antitrypsin.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000494:pharmacology; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone / Q000494:pharmacology; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology; D007016:Hypophysectomy; D007526:Isoelectric Point; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology*; D008970:Molecular Weight; D010907:Pituitary Hormones / Q000502:physiology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D010907:Pituitary Hormones; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone; D013006:Growth Hormone; D013974:Thyroxine; D003345:Corticosterone