The hypothalamic–hypophyseal–gonadal regulation of hepatic glutathione S-transferases in the rat

Hepatic glutathione S-transferase activities were determined with the substrates 1,2-dichloro-4-nitrobenzene and 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene. Sexual differentiation of glutathione S-transferase activities is not evident during the prepubertal period, but glutathione conjugation with 1,2-dichloro-4-nitrobenzene is 2–3-fold greater in adult males than in females. Glutathione conjugation with 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene is slightly higher in adult males than adult females. No change in activity was observed after postpubertal gonadectomy of males or females. Neonatal castration of males results in a significant decrease in glutathione conjugation with 1,2-dichloro-4-nitrobenzene. Hypophysectomy, or hypophysectomy followed by gonadectomy did result in significantly higher glutathione S-transferase activities in both sexes. These increases can be reversed by implanting an adult male or female pituitary or four prepubertal pituitaries under the kidney capsule. Postpubertal sexual differentiation of glutathione S-transferase activities is neither dependent on pituitary sexual differentiation nor pituitary maturation. Prolactin concentrations are inversely related to glutathione S-transferase activities in hypophysectomized rats with or without ectopic pituitaries. Somatotropin exogenously administered to hypophysectomized rats results in decreased glutathione S-transferase activities, whereas prolactin has no effect. Adult male rats treated neonatally with monosodium l-glutamate to induce arcuate nucleus lesions of the hypothalamus have decreased glutathione S-transferase activities towards 1,2-dichloro-4-nitrobenzene and decreased somatotropin concentrations. Our experiments suggests that sexual differentiation of hepatic glutathione S-transferase is a result of a hypothalamic inhibiting factor in the male (absent in the female). This postpubertally expressed inhibiting factor acts on the pituitary to prevent secretion of a pituitary inhibiting factor (autonomously secreted by the female), resulting in higher glutathione S-transferase activities in the adult male than the adult female.     

Effect of paired encounters on plasma androgens and behaviour in males and females of the spiny damselfish Acanthochromis polyacanthus

Sexually mature male and female spiny damselfish, Acanthochromis polyacanthus (Pomacentridae) were introduced to resident fish of both sexes in paired encounter trials and the effect on activity, agonistic behaviour and plasma levels of testosterone (T) and 11-ketotestosterone (11-KT) in males, and T and 17β-estradiol (E₂) in females, and cortisol in both sexes was determined. Introduced males showed suppressed levels of T in the presence of both resident males and females, whereas resident males showed elevated T in response to introduced males but not females. Plasma 11-KT levels were unchanged in either resident or introduced males. Resident males showed increased activity in the presence of males but not females. Resident females showed an increase in activity when paired with introduced females and greater aggressive behaviour towards females than males. There were no differences in plasma hormone levels in either resident or introduced female fish. Plasma cortisol levels were low in all fish and stress effects did not appear to account for differences in T levels in males. The results of the present study show that elevations in plasma T levels in resident male spiny damselfish are associated only with male presence but that suppression of T in introduced fish occurs irrespective of the sex of the resident. In contrast resident females, which show stronger evidence of aggressive behaviour do not show changes in plasma androgen levels. This suggests that aggressive behaviour in male and female fishes may be mediated by different endocrine pathways.     

Distribution of monoamine oxidase activity in tissues of the urodeles Ambystoma tigrinum (tiger salamander) and Necturus maculosus (mudpuppy)

1. Monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity was determined fluorometrically in tissues of adult mudpuppies, and pre- (young) and post- (adult) metamorphic tiger salamanders. 2. From responses to specific inhibitors it was determined that 95% activity was MAO type A in all tissues. 3. In young salamanders MAO activity was greater in brain and intestine of males than of females, and was considerably higher in kidney of both sexes and in intestine of males compared to adults. 4. MAO activity was distributed differently in the mudpuppy compared to the salamander. Intestine and liver contained high activity and brain had relatively little MAO activity compared to salamander. 5. The apparent Michaelis constant of MAO activity in the different groups and tissues was generally similar, suggesting a similarity of the MAO molecule.     

Sex difference in subunit composition of hepatic glutathione S-transferase in rats

The activities of hepatic cytosolic glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) towards 1,2-dichloro-4-nitrobenzene in male rats were higher than those in females, however, the enzyme activities towards 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene were not significantly different between the two sexes. SDS-PAGE analysis of GSTs purified from male and female rat hepatic cytosols by affinity column chromatography showed that there was a significant difference in the subunit composition between the two sexes. With regard to the several isozymes of GSTs in male and female rats, isozymes with basic and neutral/acidic isoelectric points were separated into seven molecular species by chromatofocusing. These sex differences in the quantitative proportions of GST isozymes were also confirmed by immunotitration using anti-GST-BL and -AC antibodies. On the other hand, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities in rat hepatic cytosol towards hydrogen peroxide and cumene hydroperoxide were markedly higher in females than in males. Of the two types of GSH-Px, selenoenzyme (Se-GSH-Px) and the Se-independent enzyme (non-Se-GSH-Px), the former was found to be mainly responsible for the sex difference in the enzyme activities. Moreover, the GSH-Px activity of GSTs, non-Se-GSH-Px, was also higher in females than that in males. Since GST isozymes of the BL type are known to possess GSH-Px activity towards cumene hydroperoxide, the increased activities of non-Se-GSH-Px in the female hepatic cytosol seemed to be mainly due to the increased transferase activities of the isozymes, GST-L2 and -BL.     

A comparative study of renal function in male and female spiny mice – sex specific responses to a high salt challenge

Background

There is a significant body of evidence to suggest that hormone levels, receptor density and structural differences between males and females can significantly alter renal hemodynamics. We compared the renal hemodynamic and excretory profile of female and male spiny mice under baseline conditions and in response to a high-NaCl diet.

Methods

Adult male and female spiny mice were fed either a normal or high salt diet for 7 days. Renal excretory profile was obtained from 24 h urine samples, and renal hemodynamic measurements using anaesthetised renal clearance techniques. Kidneys were excised, weighed and frozen for qPCR analysis.

Results

Under basal conditions, conscious and anaesthetised renal functions were similar between male and female spiny mice when adjusted for body weights. Male and female spiny mice on the high-NaCl diet had significantly greater GFR than sex matched controls (P_DIET < 0.001). However the magnitude of the effect of salt was sex dependent (P_SEX < 0.001; P_INT < 0.01). Male spiny mice showed a greater increase in GFR (84% higher than normal salt males) compared to females (33% higher than normal salt females), despite similar increases in renal plasma flow. In response to 7 days of high salt diet, female spiny mice showed a greater increase in 24-hour water consumption (45% more) and urinary output (50% more) compared to males (P_INT < 0.01). These sex differences could not be explained by differences in renal expression of the V2R or AQP3 channel.

Conclusion

These studies have identified major differences between male and female spiny mice in their renal response to a high-NaCl load suggesting that renal hemodynamics may be differentially regulated for the sexes.

     

Effect of multiple mating on the reproductive performance of the rice leaffolder moth,Cnaphalocrocis medinalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae)

To clarify whether multiple mating of females and males affects the reproductive performance of the rice leaffolder moth, Cnaphalocrocis medinalis (Guenée), we examined the effect of the number of matings (once, twice, or three times) for females (female treatment) and males (male treatment) on the incidence of moth mating, number of eggs laid, egg hatchability, and adult longevity. We also compared the effect of multiple mating imposed on males or females separately with the effect of that imposed on both sexes simultaneously (both sexes treatment). The incidence of mating of females and males that mated three times (3-mated females and males) was significantly lower than for females and males that mated twice or once (2-mated or 1-mated females and males). The incidence of mating of 1-mated moths (both sexes) was significantly higher than for 2-mated or 3-mated moths (both sexes). Two-mated or 3-mated females laid significantly more eggs with significantly higher hatchability than 1-mated females. Females that mated with 1-mated males (second male mating) or 2-mated males (third male mating) laid significantly fewer eggs than those that mated with virgin males (first male mating). Females laid significantly more eggs after the second and third matings for moths of both sexes than after the first mating for moths of both sexes. The mechanisms of improvement and decline of female reproductive performance when multiple mating was imposed on males or females are also discussed in relation to the reproductive biology of C. medinalis.     

Renal cathepsin-B activities in rats after castration and treatment with sex hormones

The activities of the lysosomal endopeptidase cathepsin B (cath B; CZB-Ala-Arg-Arg-MNA as substrate) and the lysosomal exopeptidase dipeptidylpeptidase II (DAP II; Lys-Ala-2NA as substrate) were fluorometrically determined in the renal homogenate of normal and experimental (castration followed by a 14-day treatment with estradiol and testosterone) rats of both sexes. In addition, methodological investigations of the renal homogenate were performed in order to differentiate cath B from other proteinases. These showed that cath-B activity was highest at around pH 6, was strongly inhibited by 4-hydroxymercuribenzoate and leupeptin, and was activated by dithiothreitol. Trypsin-like activities were not demonstrable under the used incubation conditions. The animal experiments showed that renal cath-B activities (1) were significantly higher in females than in males, (2) increased significantly in males and decreased significantly in females after castration (no significant difference between both sexes), (3) decreased in female and male castrates after treatment with testosterone and increased strongly after treatment with estradiol, and (4) showed an activity pattern similar to that of DAP II. The results are discussed in relation to the sex-dependent and sex-hormone-dependent proteinuria of rats. It is suggested that there is a correlation between protein catabolism in the kidney and proteinuria, i.e. high lysosomal proteinase activities correspond with low proteinuria.     

Diurnal locomotion and feeding activities of two rice-ear bugs,Trigonotylus caelestialium and Stenotus rubrovittatus (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Miridae)

Diurnal locomotion and feeding activities of Trigonotylus caelestialium (Kirkaldy) and Stenotus rubrovittatus (Matsumura) were investigated using a video camera and electrical penetration graph. Diurnal locomotion activity of T. caelestialium was higher in photophase than in scotophase, whereas that of S. rubrovittatus was higher in scotophase than in photophase. No difference was observed in the locomotion activity of T. caelestialium between mated and unmated bugs or between males and females. Locomotion activity of S. rubrovittatus was different between the sexes. The activity of females was higher than that of males. Diurnal rhythms of feeding activity were obscure compared with those of the locomotion activities in both mirids. The feeding behavior of T. caelestialium was significantly more active in the photophase than in the scotophase. In S. rubrovittatus, feeding activity of males was higher in the scotophase than in the photophase, whereas females showed no such difference. It is thought that both species of mirid bugs are active during the daytime and nighttime, although the locomotion and feeding activities of T. caelestialium were high in the photophase, while those of S. rubrovittatus were high in the scotophase.     

Estrone sulfatase activity in rat brain and pituitary: effects of gonadectomy and the estrous cycle

Estrone sulfatase activity was characterized in microsomal preparations from rat brain and anterior pituitary. No differences in apparent Km were found in hypothalamic-preoptic area between male (7.5 microM) and female (7.4 microM) rats. Apparent Km's of anterior pituitaries from males (14.5 microM) and females (22.5 microM) were higher than those found in brain. Estrone sulfatase activity was equally inhibited by estradiol-17 beta-3-sulfate, dehydroepiandrosterone-3-sulfate and estrone-3-sulfate indicating a broad range of substrate specificity for this enzyme. Sulfatase activity in female anterior pituitary was found to be twice that of male. Sulfatase activity was distributed similarly in brain tissues between sexes with cerebellum greater than or equal to medial basal hypothalamus greater than preoptic area = cortex. Following gonadectomy, sulfatase activity in anterior pituitary of males was significantly greater than activity found in intact animals (P less than 0.05). This increase in activity, however, was unaffected by treatment with testosterone, dihydrotestosterone or estradiol-17 beta. Gonadectomy did not change sulfatase activity in brains of males or females or in pituitaries of females. However, sulfatase activity in pituitary glands of females changed significantly (P less than 0.05) with stages of the estrous cycle (metestrus less than diestrus less than proestrus less than estrus). These data indicate sulfatase activity in rat anterior pituitary gland may be controlled by gonadal factors while sulfatase activity in brain is regulated differently.     

Renal cathepsin-B activities in rats after castration and treatment with sex hormones

Summary The activities of the lysosomal endopeptidase cathepsin B (cath B; CZB-Ala-Arg-Arg-MNA as substrate) and the lysosomal exopeptidase dipeptidylpeptidase II (DAP II; Lys-Ala-2NA as substrate) were fluorometrically determined in the renal homogenate of normal and experimental (castration followed by a 14-day treatment with estradiol and testosterone) rats of both sexes. In addition, methodological investigations of the renal homogenate were performed in order to differentiate cath B from other protenases. These showed that cath-B activity was highest at around pH 6, was strongly inhibited by 4-hydroxymercuribenzoate and leupeptin, and was activated by dithiothreitol. Trypsin-like activities were not demonstrable under the used incubation conditions. The animal experiments showed that renal cath-B activities (1) were significantly higher in females than in males, (2) increased significantly in males and decreased significantly in females after castration (no significant difference between both sexes), (3) decreased in female and male castrates after treatment with testosterone and increased strongly after treatment with estradiol, and (4) showed an activity pattern similar to that of DAP II. The results are discussed in relation to the sexdependent and sex-hormone-dependent proteinuria of rats. It is suggested that there is correlation between protein catabolism in the kidney and proteinuria, i.e. high lysosomal proteinase activities correspond with low proteinuria.Supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (SFB 105)     

Differences in Energy Expenditures and Growth Dilution Explain Higher PCB Concentrations in Male Summer Flounder

Comparison of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) concentrations between the sexes of mature fish may reveal important behavioral and physiological differences between the sexes. We determined whole-fish PCB concentrations in 23 female summer flounder Paralichthys dentatus and 27 male summer flounder from New Jersey coastal waters. To investigate the potential for differences in diet or habitat utilization between the sexes, carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios were also determined. In 5 of the 23 female summer flounder, PCB concentrations in the somatic tissue and ovaries were determined. In addition, we used bioenergetics modeling to assess the contribution of the growth dilution effect to the observed difference in PCB concentrations between the sexes. Whole-fish PCB concentrations for females and males averaged 87 and 124 ng/g, respectively; thus males were 43% higher in PCB concentration compared with females. Carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios did not significantly differ between the sexes, suggesting that diet composition and habitat utilization did not vary between the sexes. Based on PCB determinations in the somatic tissue and ovaries, we predicted that PCB concentration of females would increase by 0.6%, on average, immediately after spawning due to release of eggs. Thus, the change in PCB concentration due to release of eggs did not explain the higher PCB concentrations observed in males. Bioenergetics modeling results indicated that the growth dilution effect could account for males being 19% higher in PCB concentration compared with females. Thus, the bulk of the observed difference in PCB concentrations between the sexes was not explained by growth dilution. We concluded that a higher rate of energy expenditure in males, stemming from greater activity and a greater resting metabolic rate, was most likely the primary driver for the observed difference in PCB concentrations between the sexes.     

Seasonal change and sex difference in drug-metabolizing activity in frog liver microsomes

The drug-metabolizing activities (aminopyrine N-demethylase and p-nitroanisole O-demethylase activities) have been measured at monthly intervals throughout the year in liver microsomes of male and female Japanese bullfrogs, Rana catesbeiana. The aminopyrine N-demethylase activity based on cytochrome P-450 of both sexes was significantly higher in May-July (spring-summer) than in August-October (summer-autumn). On the contrary, the p-nitroanisole O-demethylase activity based on cytochrome P-450 of males was significantly higher in July-October (summer-autumn) than in May-June (spring). However, there was no seasonal changes in the O-demethylase activity in females. There were significant differences between males and females in the N-demethylase activity in August-October and in the O-demethylase activity in May-June (or July-October).     

Differences in rat kidney morphology between males, females and testosterone-treated females.

Kidneys of normal female and male Wistar-Kyoto rats were studied by standard morphological techniques and morphometry in order to evaluate possible differences in the overall kidney morphology between both sexes. Furthermore, we investigated the role of testosterone (DHT) on kidney morphology by treating females with daily DHT injections. Kidney weight and volume in relation to body weight were not significantly different between males and females and were not affected by DHT. Differences were found in the volume distribution among the kidney zones. The cortex was larger in males than in females, whereas the medulla was conspicuously larger in females than in males. The greater volume of the cortex in males was mainly due to a more extensive development of proximal tubules. DHT treatment in females increased the volume of their proximal tubules. Glomerular volume was similar among the three groups. Within the medulla, the difference was most prominent in the inner stripe (14.9% of the total kidney volume in females vs. 8.9% in males) and was also important in the inner medulla (7.0 vs. 4.8%). The absolute epithelial volume of thick ascending limbs in this zone was larger in females than in males. This difference was more pronounced in short loops (approximately 20%) than in long loops (approximately 10%). The values of the DHT-treated females ranged in between. In spite of the greater development of medulla and thick ascending limbs in females, urine concentration was higher in males than in females and maximum urinary concentrating ability after 48 h dehydration was not different between both sexes.     

Underestimated contribution of skeletal muscle in ornithine metabolism during mouse postnatal development

Ornithine aminotransferase (l-ornithine 2-oxoacid aminotransferase, OAT) is widely expressed in organs, but studies in mice have focused primarily on the intestine, kidney and liver because of the high OAT-specific activity in these tissues. This study aimed to investigate OAT activity in adult mouse tissues to assess the potential contribution to ornithine metabolism and to determine OAT control during postnatal development. OAT activity was widely distributed in mouse tissues. Sexual dimorphism was observed for most tissues in adults, with greater activity in females than in males. The contribution of skeletal muscles to total OAT activity (34 % in males and 27 % in females) was the greatest (50 %) of the investigated tissues in pre-weaned mice and was similar to that of the liver in adults. OAT activity was found to be regulated in a tissue-specific manner during postnatal development in parallel with large changes in the plasma testosterone and corticosterone levels. After weaning, OAT activity markedly increased in the liver but dropped in the skeletal muscle and adipose tissue. Anticipating weaning for 3 days led to an earlier reduction of OAT activity in skeletal muscles. Orchidectomy in adults decreased OAT activity in the liver but increased it in skeletal muscle and adipose tissue. We concluded that the contribution of skeletal muscle to mouse ornithine metabolism may have been underestimated. The regulation of OAT in skeletal muscles differs from that in the liver. The present findings suggest important and tissue-specific metabolic roles for OAT during postnatal development in mice.     

Female aggregation and male competition reduce costs of sexual harassment in the mosquitofish Gambusia holbrooki

Male mosquitofish allocate a large proportion of their time budget to attempting to inseminate unreceptive females. Because females invest considerable time and energy in avoiding unwanted copulations, sexual harassment is expected to conflict with other activities such as foraging. We found that sexual harassment more than halved the foraging efficiency of the female in a task requiring the retrieval of food items scattered on the water surface. The presence of shoalmates relieved the female from harassment and foraging efficiency increased with the number of females in the group. Small males attempted to mate significantly more than large males, causing a greater reduction in the female's foraging efficiency. When several males competed for the same female, the larger, dominant male prevented all the other males from attempting to mate and so had fewer opportunities to attempt copulation. Harassment from solitary males appeared to be more costly, as females foraged more efficiently when chased by a group of males. Because male sexual activity has a large impact on a female's feeding efficiency and possibly on her survival and reproduction, sexual conflict is expected to be important in shaping association patterns of female mosquitofish with conspecifics of both sexes. Copyright 2003 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd on behalf of The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour      

Plasma dependent and independent accumulation of betaine in male and female rat tissues

Tissue betaine is an intracellular osmolyte that also provides a store of labile methyl groups. Despite these important biological roles, there are few data regarding tissue betaine content. We measured the betaine concentration of plasma and various tissues (brain, heart, lungs, liver, kidney, spleen, intestine, reproductive tissues, skeletal muscle and skin) in male and female rats and assessed whether there were any gender-specific differences in betaine content or distribution and whether there was any relationship between tissue accumulation and plasma levels. Betaine was highest in the liver and kidney with values ranging from 1.6 to 9.5 mmol/l and 2.0 to 5.4 mmol/l, respectively. Plasma betaine concentrations were significantly lower than tissue levels except in the brain (? 25 % of plasma) and skeletal muscle (similar to plasma). Regression analysis of the combined male and female data revealed a significant plasma-related accumulation of betaine in the heart, skin and skeletal muscle, while the lung, liver, kidney, spleen, and intestine showed significant plasma-related and plasma-independent accumulations of betaine. The betaine content of the skin, liver and kidney was not significantly different between males and females, but in plasma and all tissues analyzed it was significantly higher in males (P<0.01).