Abstract
Summary
1. The per cent tumor inhibition, change in carcass weight, and concentration of nonprotein methionine in the liver, resulting from administration of ethionine to normal, castrated, and testosterone-treated castrated male rats, has been determined. 2. Tumor inhibition by ethionine, and the toxi-city of this substance, was greater in castrated than in normal or testosterone-treated castrated male rats and closely resembled that observed in female rats. 3. The concentration of free nonprotein methionine in the liver of castrated male rats was similar to that found in female rats and differed from that observed in normal male or testosterone-treated castrated male rats. The presence of a methionine conjugate was indicated in the liver of castrated male and normal female rats following ethionine administration while such a conjugate was lacking in the liver of normal male or testosterone-treated castrated male rats. 4. It was concluded that the sex difference observed in tumor inhibition, toxicity, and concentration of nonprotein methionine in the liver of ethionine-treated rats was mediated by the androgens.
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