The development of an in vitro system for estimating oxytocinase in the rabbit hypothalamus and the effects of some protein synthesis inhibitors and oestradiol-17 beta on enzyme activity.

Abstract

ABSTRACT An in vitro system for investigating the effects of steroid hormones and protein synthesis inhibitors on hypothalamic peptidases inactivating oxytocin has been developed. In the presence of oestradiol-17β enzyme activity was increased in the in vitro system whilst this increase was blocked completely by cycloheximide and partially blocked by actinomycin-D. It is apparent therefore that oestradiol-17β acts directly on the hypothalamus stimulating oxytocinase activity.