Role of thyroid hormones in the normal and glucocorticosteroid hormone-induced evolution of carbamoyl-phosphate synthase (ammonia) activity in axolotl liver

Comp Biochem Physiol B. 1978;59(2):103-10. doi: 10.1016/0305-0491(78)90188-8.

Abstract

1. In axolotl liver, the activity of carbamoyl-phosphate synthase (ammonia), expressed per mg liver protein, decreases to a minimum at 5 months of age, then increases to a maximum at 8 months of age which is followed by a decrease again. The initial decrease between 3 and 5 months of age appears to be largely due to an increase in non-carbamoyl-phosphate synthase protein and the following increase between 5 and 8 months of age to a relative increase of carbamoyl-phosphate synthase protein. 2. Treatment of the animals with triiodothyronine causes an increase in carbamoyl-phosphate synthase activity, the extent of which is dependent upon hormone concentration and age of the animal. After 8 months of age no increase of enzyme occurs upon thyroid hormone treatment, although metamorphosis occurs. 3. Glucocorticosteroid hormones stimulate carbamoyl-phosphate synthase activity 2-to 3-fold in animals older than 6 months. However, in animals younger than 6 months, low concentrations of thyroid hormone, insufficient to induce metamorphosis, are necessary as permissive agents. 4. The stimulatory effects of high concentrations of thyroid hormones (T3) on carbamoyl-phosphate synthase appear to be mediated via a stimulatory effect on glucocorticosteroid biosynthesis. 5. The natural rise in enzyme activity between 5 and 8 months of age seems to be due to a rise in the concentration of circulating glucocorticosteroid hormones.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Aging
  • Ambystoma / growth & development*
  • Animals
  • Carbamoyl-Phosphate Synthase (Ammonia) / metabolism*
  • Glucocorticoids / pharmacology*
  • Liver / drug effects
  • Liver / enzymology
  • Liver / growth & development*
  • Reference Values
  • Triiodothyronine / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Glucocorticoids
  • Triiodothyronine
  • Carbamoyl-Phosphate Synthase (Ammonia)