NEURONAL REGULATION OF ORNITHINE DECARBOXYLASE INDUCED BY ANDROGENS IN THE MOUSE KIDNEY

1. Neuronal, but not circulating catecholamines, regulate the inductio n of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) by testosterone in the mouse kidney . 2. Central and peripheral catecholamine-depleting agents, such as re serpine or alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine, exerted a more pronounced effect o n renal ODC than the selective agents tetrabenazine or guanethidine. 3 . Benserazide and haloperidol decreased the induction of renal ODC pro duced by testosterone in female mice. 4. Renal denervation produced a partial inhibition of renal ODC in male mice and decreased the inducti on of ODC elicited by testosterone in female mice. 5. These results su ggest that both peripheral sympathetic neurons as well as central rela ted factors can modulate the effect of androgens on renal ODC activity .