The Effect of Adrenalectomy upon Enzymatic Activities of Sarcoma 180 in Mice

Abstract

Enzymatic activities and nitrogen and DNA content were studied in ho-mogenates of Sarcoma 180 growing in adrenalectomized and intact mice. In adrenalectomized animals, the sarcoma showed a reduced rate of growth; there was a marked increase in the specific activity (referred as Units/mg DNA) of 5′-adenosine phosphatase, 5′-inosine phosphatase and adenosine deaminase and a significant decrease of nitrogen and DNA concentration and of lactic dehydrogenase and glutathione reductase activity. Cytochrome oxydase and succinic dehydrogenase activity did not show any variation. Daily injections of DOCA or aldosterone were found to prevent to a great extent these effects of adrenalectomy, while cortisol acetate and corticosterone did not show a comparable action. The possible role of mineralcorticoids on the biochemical events leading to tumor regression, is discussed.