Journal of Dental Research, Vol 66, 1623-1626, Copyright © 1987 by International & American Associations for Dental Research Online Journals
Developmental changes of esteroprotease and androgen receptors in the mouse submandibular gland
R. Baba, R. Kurokawa and M. Ota
Department of Biochemistry, Iwate Medical University, School of Dentistry, Japan.
The activities of p-tosyl-L-arginine methyl ester (TAMEase) and cytosolic
and nuclear androgen receptors in the submandibular glands of male and
female mice were determined at various developmental stages. In males, the
activity of TAMEase was detectable at four weeks after birth, and
thereafter it increased rapidly. Cytosolic androgen receptor increased
gradually with age, whereas nuclear androgen receptor, which was minimal
one week after birth, increased remarkably four weeks after birth. In
females, the minimal activity of TAMEase was detectable at five weeks after
birth and increased very slowly with age. Cytosolic receptor increased with
age, but nuclear receptor level was unchanged. These findings suggest that
the appearance of TAMEase was in accordance with an elevation of nuclear
androgen receptor in mice submandibular glands.
