Effects of testosterone and its metabolites in relation to androgen-binding activity in murine submandibular salivary glands.
The relative potencies of testosterone (T), testosterone propionate (TP) and other related steroids (5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone, DHT; 5 alpha-androstane-3 alpha, 17 beta-diol, alpha-diol; 5 alpha-androstane-3 beta, 17 beta-diol, beta-diol) in restoring some morphological and functional characteristics of submandibular gland (SMG) were investigated in castrated mice. The steroids restored to near-control values the glandular weight and total protein content, alpha-diol and TP being the most effective compounds tested; with regard to proteolytic activity stimulation, beta-diol was more effective than DHT. The alpha-diol metabolite was unique in significantly increasing DNA synthesis. In competition studies, alpha-diol and beta-diol were ineffective in displacing the specifically bound [3H]-R1881 from the SMG androgen-binding macromolecules. Thus T can elicit its effects on SMG without the need of prior conversion to DHT; there must be alternative, receptor-independent mechanisms whereby alpha- and beta-diol exert trophic/metabolic effects on murine SMG.
D015113:Androstane-3,17-diol / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004963:Estrenes / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D015741:Metribolone; D051379:Mice; D009919:Orchiectomy; D009929:Organ Size; D011944:Receptors, Androgen / Q000378:metabolism*; D013363:Submandibular Gland / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D013739:Testosterone / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D045165:Testosterone Congeners / Q000378:metabolism
D004963:Estrenes; D011944:Receptors, Androgen; D045165:Testosterone Congeners; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone; D015113:Androstane-3,17-diol; D015741:Metribolone; D013739:Testosterone