Sexual dimorphism of erythropoietin-degrading activity in mouse submaxillary gland extracts

In the course of investigation of submaxillary gland (SG) extracts from mice as a possible source of extra-renal erythropoietin (EPO) we have extended our previous studies of the degradation of EPO added to SG and kidney extracts. The discrepancy between estimates of EPO obtained with two radioimmunoassays (RIAs) differing only in time of incubation with 125I-labeled recombinant human EPO (r-HuEPO) (20 h and 72 h) has been used as an indicator of tracer degradation occurring during the RIA incubation. Degradation of 125I-labeled r-HuEPO by male mouse SG extracts was not prevented by addition of inhibitors of monodeiodinases or proteolytic enzymes. Degradation of added 125I-labeled r-HuEPO was monitored using gel filtration fast protein liquid chromatography. SG extracts from male and androgen-treated female mice both degraded tracer r-HuEPO to a greater extent than extracts from female mice. Tracer degradation increased with time and tissue concentration and could give rise to invalid estimates of EPO in SG extracts by RIA. In contrast, none of the kidney extracts degraded r-HuEPO. Recovery of mouse serum EPO added to and incubated with male mouse SG or kidney extracts was 13% and 93%, respectively, estimated by RIA under conditions that excluded degradation of the RIA tracer antigen.