No abstract

Isolation and caracterization of glycosaminoglycans were performed in uteri and salivary glands of castrated and normal female rats and in castrated female rats receiving daily doses of 1 or 10 μg of oestradiol benzoate. The uronic acid concentration in the uterus was increased by castration and decreased by the administration of oestradiol benzoate but due to the changes in uterine weight the uronic acid content of each uterus was decreased by castration and increased by oestradiol benzoate. Chromatographic separation of glycosaminoglycans was performed on cellulose microcolumns. The concentration of each glycosaminoglycan fraction was increased by castration and decreased by oestradiol benzoate. No changes in the uronic acid concentration or total glandular content or in the chromatographic distribution of the fractions were found in the parotid, submaxillary or retrolingual glands.

SUMMARY The effects of castration, and of the daily administration of 100 or 300 μg testosterone propionate (TP) for 1 month to castrated animals, on the glycosaminoglycans of the ventral prostate, seminal vesicles and salivary glands, were studied in male white rats. Castration produced atrophy of the ventral prostate and seminal vesicles together with increased concentration of uronic acid, and atrophy of the submaxillary glands together with decreased uronic acid concentration. The administration of TP to castrated animals produced opposite effects. No changes in weight or in uronic acid concentration were found in the parotid and retrolingual glands. Fractionation on cellulose microcolumns showed that the changes in uronic acid concentration were due to changes in fraction 1 (glycoproteins) in the submaxillary glands, in fractions 2 (hyaluronic acid) and 3 (heparitin sulphate) in the seminal vesicles, and in all the chromatographic fractions in the ventral prostate.

The isolation and characterization of glycosaminoglycans was performed in uterus and submaxillary glands of castrated female rats receiving daily doses of 20 or 200 JJg of acetoxyprogesterone and 100 or 1000 JJg of progesterone. Chromatographic separation of glycosaminoglycans was performed on cellulose microcolumns. The uronic acid concentration in the uterus was decreased by acetoxyprogesterone. in every chromatographic fraction, but not by progesterone. The uronic •This work was partly supported by research grants from the University of Buenos Aires and from the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Argentina.

No abstract