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Horm Metab Res 2004; 36(3): 131-135
DOI: 10.1055/s-2004-814335
Original Basic
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Effects of Orchidectomy and Testosterone Replacement on Mouse Pyrrolidone Carboxypeptidase Activity in the HPA Axis

M.  J.  García-López1 , J.  M.  Martínez-Martos1 , M.  D.  Mayas1 , M.  P.  Carrera1 , M.  J.  Ramírez-Expósito1
  • 1Unit of Physiology, Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Experimental and Health Sciences, University of Jaén, Jaén, Spain
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Publication History

Received 2 June 2003

Accepted after revision 7 October 2003

Publication Date:
01 April 2004 (online)

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Summary

Pyrrolidone carboxypeptidase, also known as pyroglutamyl aminopeptidase, removes pyroglutamyl terminal residues from biologically active peptides such as thyrotropin-releasing hormone. The aim of the present work was to study the influence of orchidectomy and testosterone replacement on soluble (pyrrolidone carboxypeptidase type I) and membrane-bound (pyrrolidone carboxypeptidase type II) activities in the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis. Forty male mice (Balb/C) were distributed into five groups: sham-operated controls, orchidectomized, and orchidectomized treated with increasing doses of testosterone in each group (3, 6 and 12 mg/kg). In the hypothalamus, orchidectomy increased pyrrolidone carboxypeptidase type I, whereas the highest dose of testosterone returned this activity to control levels. In the pituitary, neither pyrrolidone carboxypeptidase type I nor type II activities changed after orchidectomy, although both activities increased after administration of testosterone in both cases. On the other hand, orchidectomy increased pyrrolidone carboxypeptidase type I and type II activities in adrenal glands, while testosterone replacement returned it to control levels. These results suggest that testosterone differentially modulates pyrrolidone carboxypeptidase type I and type II activities, and therefore also their endogenous substrate regulation. Thus, the influence of sex hormones in the physiology of the HPA axis through the modulation of the Pyrrolidone carboxypeptidase type I and type II activities is of great importance on stress and neuropathology associated with HPA dysfunction

Key words

Pyroglutamyl aminopeptidase I - Pyroglutamyl aminopeptidase II - Testosterone - Orchidectomy - HPA axis - TRH - Mouse

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Dr. M. J. Ramírez-Expósito

Unit of Physiology, Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Experimental and Health Sciences

University of Jaén · Paraje ”Las Lagunillas” s/n · 23071 Jaén · Spain

Phone: +34(953)012010

Fax: +34(953)012141

Email: mramirez@ujaen.es