Estrogenic regulation of diamine oxidase activity in rat uterus.

Diamine oxidase activity was studied in female rat tissues during the estrous cycle and after 17 beta-estradiol administration. During the estrous cycle, uterine and hepatic enzyme activities were highest at proestrus and lowest at estrus, when estrogen plasma levels are known to be respectively high and low. The administration of 17 beta-estradiol to ovariectomized rats caused a rapid and prolonged increase in enzyme activity in uterus and only a transient increase in the liver. Such increases were prevented by cycloheximide and by actinomycin D administration. No changes were observed in renal enzyme activity during estrus or after hormone treatment. Our data suggest that estrogens regulate diamine oxidase activity in rat uterus by a mechanism of enzyme induction.