Effect of phenols on the oxidation of estradiol by uterine peroxidase.

The effect of various phenols on the conversion of [4 -14C]estradiol to water-soluble products by estrogen-induced uterine peroxidase (EC 1.11.1.7) has been investigated. Evidence was provided that those phenols which enhanced the oxidation of estradiol exerted their effect by activating peroxidase or protecting the enzyme from inactivation by the products of the reaction rather than by inhibiting the breakdown of hydrogen peroxide by catalase (EC 1.11.1.6). It has also been shown that tyrosine acted both as an activator of uterine peroxidase and as a water-soluble acceptor for the metabolites of estradiol. The ability of tyrosyl peptides to form conjugates with estradiol was influenced by the other amino acids and decreased with the number of adjacent tyrosyl residues.     

Role of estrogen-induced uterine peroxidase in the metabolism of estradiol in vivo

The nature of the steroids present in the uteri of immature rats and in those of animals pretreated with estrogen which contained peroxidase was examined 10 min and 2 h after the in vivo administration of 0.25 μg of [³H]-estradiol. Only unchanged estradiol and some estrone were detected in the uteri of both groups of rats and most of the radioactivity was released into the medium after incubation with p-hydroxymercuribenzoate (PHMB), a sulfhydryl-blocking reagent. Similarly, an 80-fold excess of diethylstilbestrol (DES) injected together with [³H]-estradiol prevented the uterine uptake of the ³H-labelled compound and also displaced it from the uteri of both control and estrogen-pretreated rats. The concentration of estrogen-receptor in the cytosol of immature and estradiol-pretreated rats was determined by two different methods to show that the receptor had been replenished in the uteri of rats given estrogen 20 h before the experiment to induce peroxidase. These results indicate that even though uterine peroxidase can catalyze the metabolism and covalent binding of estradiol to protein in vitro, it is unlikely to limit the duration of estrogen action in the intact animal by this mechanism. Other possible roles for the induced enzyme are considered.     

Metabolism of [4-14C]oestradiol by oestrogen-induced uterine peroxidase

1. An enzyme that catalyses the metabolism and binding of [4-(14)C]oestradiol to protein and to other high-molecular-weight substances in the presence of H(2)O(2) was shown to be absent from the uteri of immature rats and to be induced by physiological doses of oestrogen or pregnant-mare-serum gonadotrophin. 2. The pH optimum, stability to heat and other characteristics of the uterine enzyme system as well as its subcellular distribution were determined. 3. The increase in the ability of uterine preparations to convert [4-(14)C]oestradiol into water-soluble products as a result of oestrogen treatment was accompanied by an increase in peroxidase and NADH oxidase activities and was inhibited by actinomycin D and cycloheximide. 4. The results support the proposal that the increase in peroxidase activity after oestrogen treatment might be part of an adaptive response of the uterus permitting it to bind and inactivate oestrogens and thus limit the duration of their effect upon this target tissue.     

Characterization of the estrogen-induced uterine peroxidase by microelectrophoresis

Estrogen-dependent peroxidase from rat uterine fluid has been investigated by microelectrophoretic techniques. The molecular weight of the enzyme has been determined in the range of 100,000 by using polyacrylamide gradient gels in the absence and presence of nonionic and anionic detergent. The isoelectric points are located between pH 4.5 and 5.9. Employing the two-dimensional combination of isoelectric focusing and gel gradient electrophoresis, the enzyme was separated into two subunits, one having a molecular weight of 70,000, the other less than 20,000. The large subunit has slight enzymatic activiy, while the smaller subunit may be responsible for the charge difference in the holoenzyme pattern. The glycoprotein pattern of the uterine fluid peroxidase is further defined by its separation by affinity chromatography using a concanavalin A-Sepharose column and by its susceptibility to neuraminidase treatment.     

Metabolism of estradiol by true and pseudoperoxidases

The activation of 14C-labeled estradiol by "true" and "pseudo" peroxidases to form conjugates and other products was compared in four model systems using H2O2, glutathione, Mn2+ or irradiated riboflavin. Albumin was used as acceptor except in the glutathione system. The binding of estradiol to glutathione in the presence of the true peroxidases, lacto- or uterine peroxidase (no H2O2 added), was also examined and the conditions shown to differ from those required with the pseudoperoxidases, microperoxidase or trypsin-digested cytochrome c. The conjugates were purified by chromatography after elution from Amberlite XAD-2 and the relative amounts of these products assessed by autoradiography. The ratio of steroid to glutathione in the main water-soluble metabolite formed with lactoperoxidase was found to be approx 1:1 in a double label experiment with [14C]estradiol and [3H]glutathione. It was also shown, using estradiol labeled with 3H in different positions of the steroid molecule, that lactoperoxidase acts non-specifically in catalyzing the formation of glutathionyl conjugates as indicated by the release of 3H2O. The possible role of peroxidase and glutathione in the metabolism of estrogens and in the formation of artifactual products is discussed.     

Glucocorticoids inhibit estradiol-mediated uterine growth: possible role of the uterine estradiol receptor

Stress-related activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA) is associated with suppression of the reproductive axis. This effect has been explained by findings indicating that corticotropin-releasing hormone suppresses hypothalamic gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) secretion via an opioid peptide-mediated mechanism, and that glucocorticoids suppress both GnRH and gonadotropin secretion and inhibit testosterone and estradiol production by the testis and ovary, respectively. To evaluate whether glucocorticoids suppress the effects of estradiol on its target tissues, we examined the ability of dexamethasone to inhibit estradiol-stimulated uterine and thymic growth in ovariectomized rats. Estradiol alone, given daily for 5 days, caused dose-dependent uterine and thymic growth. Dexamethasone alone, given daily for 5 days, caused a dose-dependent decrease in body weight gain and in thymic growth. When estradiol and dexamethasone were administered simultaneously, however, body weight gain and thymic growth were also inhibited (p less than 0.05). Dexamethasone decreased estradiol-induced uterine cytosolic and nuclear estrogen receptor concentrations (E2 R0, p less than 0.05; E2nR0, respectively), but had no effect on estradiol-induced progesterone receptor concentrations (P4R0, p greater than 0.05). Levels of uterine glucocorticoid receptors were not affected by estrogen and/or dexamethasone treatment. These findings suggest that stress levels of glucocorticoids, administered over a 5-day interval, block the estradiol-stimulated growth of female sex hormone target tissues. This effect may be partially mediated by a glucocorticoid-induced decrease of the estradiol receptor concentration. Thus, another mechanism by which the HPA may influence reproductive function during stress is by a direct effect of glucocorticoids on the target tissues of sex steroids.     

Inhibition of rat uterine estradiol receptor by aurintricarboxylic acid

Estradiol-receptor complex from rat uterus has been shown to have an affinity for DNA-cellulose and ATP-Sepharose. This DNA and ATP binding of estradiol receptor was observed to be sensitive to low concentrations (0.01–0.2mM) of aurintricarboxylic acid. The inhibitor was more effective when added to preparations that contained activated estradiol-receptor complex. Steroid binding properties of the receptor remained intact under the above conditions as judged by charcoal adsorption assays and sucrose gradient analysis. In addition, a 40% inhibition in the nuclear translocation of cytosol estradiol receptor was observed when rat uteri were incubated with 10nM [³H] estradiol under an atmosphere of 95% O₂ and 5% CO₂ in the presence of aurintric-carboxylic acid. Our results suggest that aurintricarboxylic acid is an effective inhibitor of rat uterine estradiol receptor and that it may be acting by interfering with site(s) on the estradiol receptor which may be exposed upon activation and are subsequently involved in processes such as ATP binding, nuclear uptake and DNA binding.     

Metabolism of [4-14C]estradiol by 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene-induced mammary tumor peroxidase

The peroxidase and estradiol-metabolizing activities of mammary tumors induced by 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene were determined in fresh and stored tissue. In both cases, a wide variation in peroxidase activity was observed in 47 different tumors tested. The properties of the enzyme found in the tumors were similar to those of lactoperoxidase. It is suggested that the amount of peroxidase present might reflect the ability of tumor cells to differentiate in response to hormonal stimulation and be indicative of the degree of tumor progression.     

Induction of uterine peroxidase: Correlation with estrogenic activity

A good correlation was obtained between the uterotrophic activity of a number of steroids and related compounds and their ability to induce peroxidase in the immature rat uterus in vivo. It is proposed that this biochemical test gives a better indication of an intact receptor-acceptor system in target cells than assays based on the binding to high affinity estrogen receptors.     

Identification of acetaminophen polymerization products catalyzed by horseradish peroxidase

Horseradish peroxidase catalyzed the H2O2-dependent oxidation and polymerization of acetaminophen. Six acetaminophen polymers were isolated from horseradish peroxidase reaction mixtures by semipreparative high pressure liquid chromatography. Chemical structures were determined by a combination of electron impact and chemical ionization mass spectrometry and 500-MHz proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Two dimers, three trimers, and one tetramer were identified. The polymers formed primarily through a covalent bond between carbons ortho to the hydroxyl group, and to a lesser extent, between the carbon ortho to the hydroxyl group and the amino group of another acetaminophen molecule. Greater than 99% of the polymerization reaction products were quenched by the addition of 2.0 mM ascorbate. High acetaminophen concentration favored dimer formation, whereas low acetaminophen concentration favored formation of trimers and tetramers. Since approximately 1 mol of H2O2 was consumed per mol of covalent ligand formed between acetaminophen molecules, these products probably result from free radical termination reactions.     

Reactive products formed by peroxidase catalyzed oxidation of p-phenetidine

The drug 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide (4NQO) is a potent inhibitor of Dictyostelium discoideum spore germination. This inexpensive, water soluble drug is active at a concentration of 5 micrograms/ml (26 microM) and permeates the spore at all stages in germination. Spores subjected to 4NQO treatment exhibit an irreversible blockage of myxamoebae emergence, but spore activation, post-activation lag, and swelling are not affected. Swollen 4NQO-treated spores lose the outer two spore walls but lack the ability to degrade the innermost wall. The drug does not affect oxygen uptake during post-activation lag or swelling, and only a stage specific depression in O2 uptake is observed when control spores begin to release myxamoebae. When added early in germination, 4NQO blocks the incorporation of [3H] uracil into a cold trichloroacetic acid (TCA) insoluble fraction by 98%. However, when the drug is added midway through germination and followed by a pulse labelling period of 1 h, only 65% inhibition of RNA synthesis is observed. This lack of complete inhibition may occur because the drug requires metabolic activation; thus, new rounds of RNA synthesis may have initiated before the drug became fully activated. 4NQO also blocks the de novo expression of beta-glucosidase activity when added early in germination. Additionally, we observe that vegetative cellular slime mold cells are 100 times more resistant than spores to 4NQO-induced damage. Taken together, our results support the observation that RNA synthesis is only required for the emergence stage of germination and that dormant D. discoideum spores may lack efficient excision repair mechanisms.     

Uterine changes on removal of submaxillary glands in rats (histological changes/uterine peroxidase/blood estradiol level)

Surgical removal of submaxillary gland in immature rats causes a large increase in size and about three to four fold increase in dry and wet weight of uterus compared to that of the sham operated animals of the same age group. Histological examination reveals a significant increase in the diameter of the uterus with considerable elongation of the luminal epithelium from cubical to columnar in the experimental group. Biochemical studies show that the uterine peroxidase (donor: hydrogen-peroxide oxidoreductase, EC 1.11.1.7), a marker enzyme for uterine growth, increases by ten to fifteen fold on submaxillariectomy and returns almost to the normal level on administration of submaxillary gland extract (105,000 X g supernatant) to the submaxillariectomized animals. Estrogen estimation by radioimmunoassay shows a similar increase of three to four fold on removal of submaxillary glands and decrease almost to the normal value on administration of the submaxillary extract.     

Androgen receptor-mediated inhibition of estrogen-induced uterine peroxidase

Flutamide, an anti-androgen known to act through the androgen receptor, abolished the inhibitory action of testosterone on the induction of peroxidase in immature rat uteri without affecting inhibition produced by progesterone. The time course of the androgen effect on estrogen-induced uterine peroxidase, uterine weight and glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity was also determined together with the effect of flutamide on these steroid hormone-sensitive parameters. The possible mechanism of action of these compounds is discussed, particularly in the light of estrogen-induced eosinophilia. It is proposed that the observed interaction between testosterone and estradiol is mediated through their own specific receptors and not by illicit occupation of the estrogen receptor by the androgen. 5-Androstene-3 beta, 17 beta-diol (Adiol), an androgen known to exert estrogenic effects through the estrogen receptor, induced uterine peroxidase and was without significant effect on the action of estradiol, in contrast to testosterone.     

Effect of iodide on estrogen-induced uterine peroxidase

Iodide administered in the drinking water for 5–7 days increased the activity of estradiol-induced uterine peroxidase in the immature rat. This effect was specific for iodide and could not be mimicked by chloride, bromide, thiocyanate, perchlorate or iodate. Sodium iodide also increased peroxidase activity in the parotid gland but had no effect on glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase in the uterus, thyroid or parotid even though estradiol produced a 2-fold increase in the activity of this enzyme in the uterus. ¹²⁵I was taken up more readily by the uterus than by muscle but this process was not influenced by prior treatment of the animals with estrogen. The in vitro effect of sulfhydryl reagents on uterine peroxidase was also investigated and proposals made for possible mechanisms of action of iodide on this enzyme in the intact animal.