Summary
Administration of oestradiol-17β to Xenopus laevis Daudin results in profound modifications of hepatic ultrastructure. In all liver cells there is a considerable proliferation of the granular endoplasmic reticulum and an increase in the electron density of the nucleolus. The amount of stored glycogen is depressed. Injection of pregnant mare serum gonadotrophin causes a similar response in intact females but not in males or ovariectomized females, suggesting an indirect effect of this hormone by stimulation of ovarian oestrogen secretion. Oestradiol benzoate, oestrone and oestriol are also able to effect the described response, though in the last case the changes are less complete. Testosterone propionate, progesterone, and cortisone acetate are inert in this respect.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bailey, R. E.: The effect of estradiol on serum calcium, phosphorus and protein of goldfish. J. exp. Zool. 136, 455–469 (1957).
Chung-Wai Ho, F., and W. E. Vanstone: Effect of estradiol monobenzoate on some serum constituents of maturing sock-eye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka). J. Fish. Res. Bd. Can. 18, 854–864 (1961).
Clark, N. B.: Influence of estrogens upon the serum calcium, phosphate and protein concentrations of fresh-water turtles. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 20, 823–834 (1967).
Follett, B. K., and M. R. Redshaw: The effects of oestrogens and follicle-stimulating hormone on the metabolism of lipids and proteins in Xenopus laevis Daudin. J. Endocr. 38, v (1967).
— —: The effects of oestrogen and gonadotrophins on lipid and protein metabolism in Xenopus laevis Daudin. J. Endocr. 40, 439–456 (1968).
Hahn, W. E.: Estradiol-induced vitellinogenesis and concomitant fat mobilisation in the lizard Uta stansburiana. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 23, 83–95 (1967).
Heald, P. J., and P. M. McLachlan: Isolation of phosvitin from the plasma of the laying hen. Biochem. J. 87, 571–576 (1963).
— —: The isolation of phosvitin from the plasma of the oestrogen-treated immature pullet. Biochem. J. 92, 51–55 (1964).
— —: The synthesis of phosvitin in vitro by slices of liver from the laying hen. Biochem. J. 94, 32–39 (1965).
Hosoda, T., and T. Abe: Histological studies on the effects of estrogen and thyroxine on the liver cells of immature chickens. Jap. Poul. Sci. 2, 11–19 (1965).
Laskowski, M.: Über das Vorkommen des Serumvitellins im Blute der Wirbeltiere. Biochem. Zbl. 284, 318–321 (1936).
Redshaw, M. R., B. K. Follett, and T. J. Nicholls: Comparative effects of the oestrogens and other steroid hormones on serum lipids and proteins in Xenopus laevis Daudin. Submitted to J. Endocr. (1968).
Rudack, D., and R. A. Wallace: On the site of phosvitin synthesis in Xenopus laevis. Biochim. biophys. Acta (Amst.) 155, 299–301 (1968).
Schjeide, O. A., M. Wilkens, R. McCandless, R. Munn, M. Peterson, and E. Carlsen: Liver synthesis, plasma transport, and structural alterations accompanying passage of yolk proteins. Amer. Zoologist 3, 167–184 (1963).
Shapiro, B.G., and H.A.Shapiro: Histological changes in the ovaries and ovarian blood vessels of Xenopus laevis associated with hypophysectomy, captivity and the normal reproductive cycle. J. exp. Biol. 11, 73–80 (1934).
Tata, J. R.: The formation, distribution and function of ribosomes and microsomal membranes during induced amphibian metamorphosis. Biochem. J. 105, 783–801 (1967).
Urist, M. R., and O. A. Schjeide: The partition of calcium and protein in the blood of oviparous vertebrates during estrus. J. gen. Physiol. 44, 743–756 (1961).
— —, and F. C. McLean: The partition and binding of calcium in the serum of the laying hen and of the estrogenised rooster. Endocrinology 63, 570–585 (1958).
Wallace, R. A.: A serum lipophosphoprotein produced by vitellogenic females and estrogenized males of Xenopus laevis. J. Cell Biol. 35, 137A (1967).
—, and D. W. Jared: Serum lipophosphoprotein induced by estrogen in males of Xenopus laevis. Science, 160, 91 (1968a).
- - Studies on amphibian yolk. VII. Serum phosphoprotein synthesis by vitellogenic females and estrogen-treated males of Xenopus laevis. Canad. J. Biochem., in press (1968b).
Zwarenstein, H., and H. A. Shapiro: Metabolic changes associated with endocrine activity and the reproductive cycle in Xenopus laevis. J. exp. Biol. 10, 372–378 (1933).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Supported by a grant from the Agricultural Research Council (A. G. 24/28) to Professor J. M. Dodd.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Nicholls, T.J., Follett, B.K. & Evennett, P.J. The effects of oestrogens and other steroid hormones on the ultrastructure of the liver of Xenopus laevis Daudin. Z. Zellforsch 90, 19–27 (1968). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00496699
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00496699