ANDROGENIC CONTROL OF 1-ALKYL-2,3-DIACYLGLYCEROL IN THE HARDERIAN-GLAND OF THE GOLDEN-HAMSTER, MESOCRICETUS-AURATUS

Harderian glands of golden hamsters produce a copious lipid secretion, most of which is in the form of 1-alkyl-2,3-diacylglycerol (ADG). Sex ual differences are seen in the composition of golden hamster ADG and in the morphology of secretory lipid droplet, ADGs from females contai ned abundant iso- and anteiso-branched chain alkyl groups and fatty ac ids [Seyama, Y., Otsuka, H., Ohashi, K., Vivien-Roels, B., and Pevet, P. (1995) J. Biochem. 117, 661-670]. Female hamsters were either untre ated or given subcutaneous testosterone pellets, Treatment of females with testosterone led to the disappearance of such branched chain alky l groups and fatty acids. Intact males had ADGs with entirely saturate d straight chain alkyl groups and fatty acids. Castration led to the a ppearance of iso- and anteiso-branched chain alkyl groups and fatty ac ids. These observations suggested that the production of branched chai n fatty acids in the Harderian gland of golden hamster is inhibited by testosterone at the step of isovaleryl-CoA dehydrogenase and 2-methyl branched-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase.