Plasmic membranes of hepatocytes and adrenocorticocytes in rats of different ages: effect of testosterone.

Experiments on adult (6-8-month-old and 26-28-month-old) Wistar rats revealed the hyperpolarization of plasmic membranes and activation of Na,K-ATPase of adrenocorticocytes in animals of both age groups and of hepatocytes of adult rats. No effect of testosterone was observed on the level of membrane potential and the activity of Na,K-ATPase of hepatocytes of old rats. The effect of testosterone was prevented by inhibitors of protein biosynthesis (actinomycin D and cycloheximide) and a specific inhibitor of Na,K-ATPase (ouabain), but not by K(+)-channel blocker 2-aminopyridine. Testosterone was assumed to synthesize the specific factor, capable of activating Na,K-ATPase of plasmic membranes. The cytosole of hepatocytes and the blood serum of adult testosterone-treated rats activated the Na,K-ATPase of isolated plasmic membranes of hepatocytes of adult and old intact rats. During aging there was a decrease in the capacity of cells to synthesize the specific factor, which activated Na,K-ATPase of plasmic membranes.