EFFECT OF ESTROGEN ALONE AND IN COMBINATION WITH TESTOSTERONE ON THE BODY AND ORGAN WEIGHTS AND THE ARGINASE AND PHOSPHATASES OF THE ORGANS OF THE MOUSE

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Abstract
Male mice castrated at 17- to 19-g. body wt. were implanted subcut. with a pellet of testosterone, alpha-estradiol, methoxybisdehydrodoisynolic acid (MDDA), 1-methylestradiol and methylestrone. The first 2 estrogens also were implanted as pellets consisting of 1 part of estrogen and 3 parts of cholesterol and simultaneously with a pellet of testosterone. All of the expts. were for 16 days. In addition, the testosterone and alpha-estradiol expt. was performed at 10 and 30 days. The rate of absorption of MDDA was about 8 times and that of 1-methylestradiol 4 times that of alpha-estradiol. The introduction of the 1-methyl group into estrone did not alter its rate of absorption from a pellet. The simultaneous implantation of a pellet of testosterone did not influence the rate of absorption of alpha-estradiol or MDDA. MDDA and alpha-estradiol as pure pellets greatly reduced the body wt. in a manner resembling inanition. There was a concomitant retention of urine which was exacerbated by the simultaneous admn. of testosterone. Also, deaths occurred only in those mice that were implanted with both testosterone and pure pellets of MDDA or alpha-estradiol. The renotrophic property of testosterone was not altered, but the androgenic property was greatly reduced by both alpha-estradiol and MDDA. The increase in arginase activity produced by testosterone and MDDA or alpha-estradiol summated when the androgen and either of the estrogens were administered simultaneously. The estrogens did not influence the effect of the androgen on either "alkaline" or "acid" phosphatase. MDDA at the high dose produced a remarkable increase in the arginase activity of the liver; alpha-estradiol was ineffective. MDDA also produced a remarkable increase in the "alkaline" phosphatase at the high dose and alpha-estradiol a moderate increase at its high dose. MDDA stimulated a small increase in "acid" phosphatase at the high dose; alpha-estradiol was ineffective. 1-methylestradiol and methylestrone were ineffective in all of the above tests.