Ontogenesis of androgen receptors in the mouse submandibular gland: correlation with the developmental profiles of circulating thyroid and testicular hormones.

Specific binding of the synthetic androgen, [17 alpha-methyl-3H]methyltrienolone, to the cytosol fraction of the submandibular salivary gland (SMG) of male mice was studied in relation to the developmental profiles of testosterone and thyroid hormones in blood. The peak rise of serum triiodothyronine (T3) at prepubertal age was closely related to both the increase of maximal androgen-binding capacity in SMG and the conspicuous surge of proliferative activity as indicated by increased rate of glandular DNA content. Also, 2-month thyroidectomized mice had an age-related, strong reduction in the number of androgen-binding sites. On the other hand, the development of the secretory functions of the gland could be better related to the rise of circulating testosterone by days 25-30 of age. The results suggest that thyroid hormones play a very important role in the early induction and further maintenance of androgen receptors in the murine SMG.