Androgen-dependent induction of mk1, true tissue kallikrein, in submandibular gland
was studied in C3H/HeN and ICR mice and their F1 progeny. By injection of 5α-dihydrotestosterone
(DHT), total esteroproteinase activities of female mice were increased to the level
of male mice in both C3H/HeN and ICR strains. The mk1 content measured by the radioimmunoassay
with anti-mk1 antiserum was decreased in ICR mice, but markedly increased in C3H/HeN
mice after DHT injection. We examined the kallikrein isozyme pattern in SMG of two
strains using isoelectric focusing. Female ICR mice expressed mainly mk1, mk13 and
mk22, and slight mk9. Female C3H/HeN mice expressed mk1, mk9 and pl 6.6-kallikrein.
Injection of DHT did not induce any additional kallikrein isozyme in C3H/HeN mice.
Furthermore, we made an F1(C3H/HeN) mouse expressing mk13 and mk22 by mating (female
C3H/HeN × male ICR). F1(C3H/HeN); these mice showed an androgen response similar to
that observed in the ICR mice: mk1 induction in F1(C3H/HeN) mice was decreased by
injection of DHT. We suggest the possibility that androgen-dependent mk1 biosynthesis
might interact with the expression of other kallikrein isozymes.
Key words
mk1 - Kallikrein - Androgen - Salivary Gland - Proteinase
