Sex-related difference of kinin level in rat pituitary gland.

The kinin level in the pituitary glands was compared in adult male and female rats. A sex-related difference in the bradykinin (BK)-like immunoreactivity was found in the posterior lobe. The posterior pituitaries of female rats contained a higher concentration of the immunoreactive kinin than those of males. Ovariectomy of female rats resulted in the disappearance of a sex difference in the posterior kinin level and about a 3-fold increase in the anterior one. Orchidectomy of adult male rats failed to alter the kinin levels in both lobes. Moreover, the constitution of pituitary kinins was determined using HPLC. The pituitary kinins consisted of BK, Lys-BK (L-BK) and Met-Lys-BK (ML-BK) in different proportions in both lobes of male and female rats. The gonadectomy altered the proportions of these kinins. These results suggest that the pituitary kinin system may be regulated by circulating gonadal steroid hormones.