Investigation of Putative Androgen-like Activity of α 2u -Globulin in Castrated and Estrogen-Treated Male Rats 1

Abstract

Abstract

α_2u-Globulin, a male sex-dependent protein of the rat, was tested for its ability to produce androgenic or anabolic responses. Castrated rats were injected with α_2u-globulin isolated from urine or kidney and the effects on urinary nitrogen excretion, body weight, and weight of ventral prostate, seminal vesicles, and levator ani muscle were studied. α_2u-Globulin had no effect but testosterone propionate gave the expected stimulation of nitrogen retention, body growth, and growth of androgen-responsive tissues. α_2u-Globulin injected into estrogen-treated male rats (animals with suppressed serum levels of α_2u-globulin, gonadotropins, and testosterone) was also found to be without effect on body weight and on the weight of ventral prostate, seminal vesicles, levator ani muscle, and testes. We conclude that the α_2u-globulin molecule, by itself, is incapable of producing, directly or indirectly, androgenlike responses.