[Effects of cyproterone acetate on mouse submandibular gland]

It is recognized that the submandibular gland (SMG) of mice is one of the target organs for androgen, and a specific androgen-binding protein (androgen receptor) has been found in the cytosol fraction of this gland. Androgen participates in the production of histochemically and biochemically detected components of this gland through this receptor. Cyproterone acetate (CPA) is a synthetic progestogen which possesses antiandrogenic properties with some synandrogenic action. However, the action of CPA on the SMG has not been well defined. In the present study, the effects of CPA on the granular duct (GD) of the mouse SMG, which is the site of androgen action, were investigated using histometric, histochemical, and biochemical techniques. For histometric and histochemical experiments, normal adult male mice were treated with CPA (20, 40 and 80 mg/kg, S.C.) every second day for 5-30 days. In other experiments, castrated (CAS) and castrated-adrenalectomized (CA) mice were prepared, and they were given an injection of testosterone propionate (TP; 20 mg/kg, S.C.) and/or CPA (20 and 200 mg/kg, S.C.) every second day for 10 days. After the final administration, SMG weights were determined and the size of the GD in the SMG was measured by light microscopy using a micrometer. The sections of SMG were stained with methylgreen-pyronin, bromophenol blue, and p-dimethylaminobenzaldehyde in order to detect RNA (RNA staining), total protein (BPB staining), and granules (Try staining) in the GD, respectively. The intensity of each staining was measured by the method of Sato et al. For biochemical experiments, the mice with testicular feminization (Tfm), which are genetically deficient in androgen receptor, and genetically normal male (X/Y)-castrated mice were used. Both Tfm and X/Y-castrated mice were injected with CPA for histological experiments. After the administration period, the SMG's of both Tfm and X/Y-castrated mice were isolated and esteroprotease activity was determined by the method of Trautschold. The SMG of non-administered X/Y-castrated mice was homogenized in Tris-HCl buffer. And cytoplasmic extracts of SMG's from non-administered X/Y-castrated mice were prepared for detection of inhibitory effect of CPA on specific binding pattern of 3H-methyltrienolone (R1881) by the sucrose density gradient method.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)