Dependence of tonin activity in rat submaxillary gland on growth hormone and testosterone.

Tonin, an enzyme present in rat submaxillary gland, converts angiotensin I to angiotensin II and is able to form angiotensin II directly from renin substrates. This enzyme was previously shown to be different from renin, tissue isorenins, and angiotensin I converting enzyme. The specific activity of tonin in rat submaxillary gland increases with the age of the animal and is much higher in male than in female rats; this sex difference is apparent from 60 to 70 days of age. There is a sharp drop of tonin activity in hypophysectomized animals, whereas adrenalectomy, thyroidectomy, and gonadectomy have have little effect. The marked increase in tonin activity was observed in animals bearing MtT-F4 transplantable tumors known to produce ACTH, prolactin, and growth hormone. Tonin specific activity in hypophysectomized male rats is restored to control levels by combined treatment with growth hormone and testosterone. Prolactin alone or in combination with testosterone, as well as transplanted pituitaries, has no effect in hypophysectomized animals. There is a significant specific binding of 125I-labeled growth hormone to isolated membranes of rat submaxillary gland.