Sex-dependent expression and growth hormone regulation of class alpha and class mu glutathione S-transferase mRNAs in adult rat liver.

The sex-dependent expression and growth hormone (GH) regulation of rat liver glutathione S-transferase (GST) was examined using oligonucleotide probes that distinguish between closely related class Alpha (Ya1, Ya2, Yc) and class Mu (Yb1, Yb2, Yb3) GST mRNAs [Waxman, Sundseth, Srivastava and Lapenson (1992) Cancer Res. 52, 5797-5802]. Northern-blot analysis revealed that the steady-state levels of GST Ya1, Yb1 and Yb2 mRNAs are 2.5-3-fold higher in male as compared with female rat liver. In contrast, GST Yc and Ya2 mRNAs were expressed at a 2-3-fold higher level in female rat liver. Microsomal GST mRNA did not exhibit significant sex-dependent differences in rat liver. Treatment of male rats with GH by continuous infusion suppressed expression of the male-dominant GST Ya1, Yb1 and Yb2 mRNAs to levels at or below those found in female rat liver. This suppressive effect of GH was liver-specific, insofar as GH treatment did not alter kidney GST Ya1 mRNA levels. Hypophysectomy increased expression of the male-dominant GSTs, particularly in female rats (e.g. 8-fold elevation of GST Ya1 mRNA). GST Yc mRNA was increased approx. 2-fold in hypophysectomized males, indicating that this mRNA is subject to negative regulation by one or more pituitary-dependent factors. Continuous GH treatment of the hypophysectomized rats suppressed the expression of mRNA of GSTs Ya1, Yb1 and Yb2 when given as a continuous infusion, but not when given by an intermittent (twice daily) GH-injection schedule. Combination of continuous exposure to GH with thyroxine treatment resulted in a more complete suppression of GSTs Ya1, Yb1 and Yb2. In contrast, thyroxine increased the expression of GST Yc in hypophysectomized rats. These studies establish that several Alpha and Mu class GSTs are expressed in a sex-dependent fashion in adult rat liver, where they are regulated by multiple pituitary-dependent hormones through pretranslational mechanisms.