Gamma-glutamyl-amino acids as signals for the hormonal regulation of amino acid uptake by the mammary gland of the lactating rat.

The mammary gland is a good model to study the hormonal regulation of amino acid uptake. Danazol, which decreases gonadotrophin release, causes a fall in gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT) and in amino acid uptake by the gland. Treatment of the rats with estrogens and progesterone partially reverts this effect. Treatment with gonadotrophins completely reverts it. gamma-Glutamyl-amino acids (GAA) increase the uptake of amino acids by the mammary gland in rats previously treated with bromocriptine. We suggest that GAA may act as signals to stimulate amino acid uptake and that the role of GGT may be to generate that signal.