Interactions between α-MSH and sex steroids on the preputial glands of female rats

The effects of alpha-MSH and testosterone propionate on sebum secretion, sebaceous gland volume, dermal lipogenesis, and preputial gland weight and lipogenesis were examined in hypophysectomized rats. Hypophysectomy reduced sebum secretion, sebaceous and preputial gland size, and dermal and preputial gland lipogenesis. The greatest effects were seen on the biosynthesis of wax esters and squalene. Testosterone propionate (TP) increased sebum secretion, sebaceous gland volume and preputial gland weight and lipogenic activity, but had no significant effect on the pattern of lipid labelling. alpha-MSH had no effect on sebaceous or preputial gland size, but increased sebum secretion and dermal lipogenesis, especially wax ester biosynthesis. When given together TP and alpha-MSH had a synergistic effect on sebum secretion and on dermal and preputial gland lipogenesis, and the pattern of lipid labelling was shifted towards normal. TP and alpha-MSH also showed synergism in increasing preputial gland weight, but together they had no greater effect on sebaceous gland volume than that achieved with TP alone. These results suggest that TP and alpha-MSH have different actions on the sebaceous glands with alpha-MSH acting predominantly on lipogenesis and TP on cellualr proliferation and turnover leading to an increase in gland size. Preputial glands differ from cutaneous sebaceous glands in their response to alpha-MSH and androgen which could be a reflection of their more specilized function.

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

“…Modified sebaceous glands, such as the preputial glands, also respond to a-MSH and testosterone in a synergistic manner (Krahenbuhl & Desaulles, 1969;Ebling et al 1975;.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

EFFECT OF Α-Melanocyte-Stimulating HORMONE AND TESTOSTERONE ON CUTANEOUS AND MODIFIED SEBACEOUS GLANDS IN THE RAT

Thody¹,

Cooper²,

Bowden³

et al. 1976

“…In spite of maintaining that the response of the sebaceous gland to testosterone is unaffected by hypo¬ physectomy (Thody & Shuster, 1970, 1971, they now state that a-MSH probably does act synergistically with testosterone as well as independently on sebaceous secretion in the rat (Shuster & Thody, 1974). Such an interaction was clearly demonstrated by Krahenbuhl & Desaulles (1969) for the preputial glands. The work to be described was designed to see whether a-MSH can act synergistically in the sebaceous glands and other androgenresponsive organs.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 71%

The SYNERGISTIC ACTION OF Α-Melanocyte-Stimulating HORMONE AND TESTOSTERONE ON THE SEBACEOUS, PROSTATE, PREPUTIAL, HARDERIAN AND LACHRYMAL GLANDS, SEMINAL VESICLES AND BROWN ADIPOSE TISSUE IN THE HYPOPHYSECTOMIZED-CASTRATED RAT

Ebling¹,

Ebling²,

Randall³

et al. 1975

Alpha-Melanocyte-stimulating hormone was shown to act synergistically with testosterone to stimulate the sebaceous, prostate and the seminal vesicles in hypophys-ectomized-castrated rats. The sebaceous glands differed from the other three organs in that alpha-MSH not only acted synergistically, but also had a significant effect which was independent of the presence of exogenous testosterone. The response of the brown adipose tissue to testerone, considerably reduced by hypophysectomy, was not restored by alpha-MSH. The Harderian and lachrymal glands were also pituitary-dependent and their weights in hypophysectomized-castrated rats were not restored by alpha-MSH.

“…Gonadal steroids are known to be involved in the control of preputial gland growth (Huggins, Parsons & Jensen, 1955;Krähenbühl & Desaulles, 1969;Ozegovic & Milkovic, 1972;Thody & Shuster, 1975), and lipogenesis (Thody & Shuster, 1975), and also the secretion of preputial gland odours (Gawienowski, Orsulak, Stacewicz-Sapuntzakis & Pratt, 1976; Thody & Dijkstra, 1978a, b; Lucas & Thody, 1980a). Female rats are particularly attractive to male rats during pro-oestrus and part of this attraction appears to be due to the stimulation by oestrogen of the release of odours by the preputial glands (Lucas & Thody, 1980 , ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 96%

EFFECT OF Α-Melanocyte-Stimulating HORMONE AND OVARIAN STEROIDS ON PREPUTIAL GLAND FUNCTION IN THE FEMALE RAT

Donohoe¹,

Thody²,

Shuster³

1981

Sexually experienced male rats were used to test the attractiveness of preputial gland odours of female rats. The male rats showed a clear preference for the preputial gland odours of hypophysectomized females given oestradiol benzoate (OB) for 3 or 8 days to those of control rats. Progesterone treatment had no effect on the attractiveness of the preputial gland odours of OB-treated hypophysectomized female rats. Administration of alpha-MSH for either 3 or 8 days, on the other hand, increased the attractiveness to male rats of preputial gland odours of OB-treated hypophysectomized females and the presence of progesterone produced no further change. When administered alone alpha-MSH had no effect on the attractiveness of the preputial gland odours. Other pituitary hormones, such as ACTH and prolactin, had no effect on the attractiveness of preputial gland odours of OB-treated hypophysectomized rats when administered for 3 days. An increase in preputial gland size was only seen when OB, progesterone and alpha-MSH were administered together. It would appear that no relationship exists between the size of the preputial glands and their ability to attract male rats. It is concluded that, while alpha-MSH and progesterone may be important in controlling growth of the preputial glands, an interaction between alpha-MSH and oestrogen is more important for regulating the production of sex attractants by the preputial glands.