Differential actions of testosterone and its metabolites on mice submandibular gland

Submandibular glands from male mice castrated at 21 days of age and killed 60 days thereafter exhibited impaired development of the granular ducts (GD), an effect which is directly related to its androgen-dependent feature. Testosterone and other related steroids of natural occurrence were given to these animals in order to determine the mechanism by which those compounds bring about recovery of their glandular histophysiology. The size and number of GD were reconstituted by the steroids in the following order of potency: 5 alpha-androstane-3 alpha, 17 beta-diol greater than testosterone propionate greater than 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone greater than or equal to testosterone greater than 5 alpha-androstane-3 beta, 17 beta-diol. All of the drugs stimulated protein synthesis, but only 3 alpha-diol was also able to increase DNA synthesis. Results support the assumption that 3 alpha-diol exerts both proliferative and hypertrophic effects on mice SMG, possibly through some receptor-independent pathway(s); the action of the other steroids is essentially hypertrophic in nature.