Effect of Sex Steroids on the Uptake of ^3H-leucine by Brain Tissues of Ovariectomized Mice

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Effect of the sex steroids, progesterone (P) and testosterone (T), on ^3H-leucine uptake by the brain cells of ovariectomized mice were examined. Animals were divided into four groups, i. e. group 1: control animals treated with sesame oil; group 2: animals treated with P; group 3: animals treated with T, and group 4: animals first treated with T and then with P. Animals in each group were given a single i. p. injection of ^3H-leucine 24 hr after the last hormonal treatment, and sacrificed 2 hr later. Intensity of the uptake of the radiochemical was measured by counting the number of reduced silver grains over cell bodies in various brain regions using an autoradiographic technique. Group 1 showed a relatively high uptake in the SO, PV and SPH when compared with that in the remaining nuclei examined. Groups 2 and 3 both showed a significant enhancement of the uptake in SCH, ARC and PM when compared with that in group 1. Group 4 showed enhancement of the uptake in most of the nuclei except POL, DM and SPH when compared with that in group 1. However, only the POM, PV, SO and VM revealed a significantly higher uptake than the respective nuclei in groups 2 and 3. The uptake by cells in the EC and CC remained unchanged after the hormonal treatment. The present results suggest that in female mice P or T stimulates protein synthesis in the hypothalamic nuclei and that the effect of P on protein synthesis is greatly influenced by T-priming.