An investigation of the sex difference in the diuretic response to ethacrynic acid in mice.

1. Female mice of the Hough/Porton and Tuck/TO strains were found to be more sensitive than male mice to the diuretic effects of oral and intravenous doses of ethacrynic acid. 2. The sensitivity of Hough/Porton male mice to ethacrynic acid was increased after pretreatment with stilboestrol and the sensitivity of female Hough/Porton mice decreased after pretreatment with testosterone. 3. There were no significant sex differences in the diuretic response to frusemide, acetazolamide, aminophylline, bendrofluazide, and Su 15049A although a small, but significant, increase in the sensitivity of male Tuck/TO mice to triamterene was noted. 4. The sex difference in diuretic response to ethacrynic acid may be related to an effect of sex hormone balance on its metabolism or on the sensitivity of its renal receptor.