Role of Castration and Androgens in D-Amino Acid Oxidase Activity of Tissues

¹ From the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

A large number of C₁₉ steroids were able to markedly increase the d-amino acid oxidase activity of the kidney of the castrated mouse. The maximum effect was attained within 21 days of treatment and with relatively small doses of the most potent androgens. On the other hand, neither castration nor various androgens were able to significantly alter the d-amino acid oxidase activity of either the kidney or liver of the castrated rat and guinea pig. Furthermore, age did not influence the enzyme activity of the tissues of the rat (2–8 months of age) or the guinea pig (4–8 months of age). Estradiol produced a small increase in the d-amino acid oxidase activity of the kidney of the mouse but estrone, methoxybisdehydrodiosynolic acid and several corticoids were ineffective.