Developmental and hormonal regulation of the major form of hepatic glutathione S-transferase in male mice.

Among three forms of mouse hepatic glutathione S-transferase, the II form, which is immunologically related to rat 7-7 form, was the major form in adult male mice of all the five strains examined and the levels (about 5.0 mg/g of liver) were approximately ten-fold higher than those of females. This form markedly increased at puberty in male mice, whereas no change was observed in females. By castration, the levels in males decreased to those in females, while those in females increased to those in adult males by administration of testosterone. These results indicate that the expression of II form in mouse liver is regulated developmentally by testosterone, and this protein could be a useful marker for the male mouse.