Effects of sex hormones on hepatic aldehyde oxidase activity in C57BL/6J mice.

The effects of sex hormones on the activity of a hepatic enzyme, aldehyde oxidase (EC 1.2.3.1, an oxidoreductase), in sexually immature and mature C57BL/6J mice has been investigated. The androgens testosterone propionate and dihydrotestosterone significantly increased enzyme levels in castrated adult males and intact adult females, whereas beta-estradiol-3,17-dipropionate significantly decreased enzyme levels in adult male mice. Increased levels of aldehyde oxidase could not be achieved in immature males with either androgen. Sucrose density gradient ultracentrifugation of hepatic cytosol and 3H-androgen revealed a macromolecular binding complex sedimenting at 4.6 S which, by careful examination, appeared to represent serum contamination of the cytosol preparation.