Development of responsiveness of mouse submandibular gland to androgen and thyroid hormone.

The effects of thyroxine and 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone on the activities of various marker enzymes in the submandibular glands of immature mice were studied. The responsiveness to thyroid hormone appeared at latest by day five after birth, which was ten d earlier than the appearance of androgen responsiveness. The activity of trypsin-like esteroprotease, however, was not increased by these hormones until day 15 after birth.