In vivo hormonal induction of ornithine decarboxylase in rat kidney

Single pharmacological doses of parathyroid hormone, calcitonin, vasopressin, d-aldosterone, or L-triiodothyronine produced a significant increase in the ornithine decarboxylase activity of rat kidney. The activity of kidney ornithine decarboxylase was also enhanced by other hormones, such as pentagastrin and serotonin, which, although they are not known to modify kidney physiology, are secreted by cells having close relationships to the calcitonin-secreting parafollicular cells. The induction of the enzyme was observed in hypophysectomized rats, with or without some other hormone-secreting glands remaining. However, the magnitude of the stimulation elicited by the hormones was somewhat diminished in animals still having the endocrine gland whose hormone was being tested. The maximal stimulation of kidney ornithine decarboxylase activity by parathyroid hormone, calcitonin, vasopressin, L-triiodothyronine, pentagastrin, and serotonin occurred at 4 h after the hormone injection. The enhancement in ornithine decarboxylase activity produced by d-aldosterone was maximal at 3 h after the injection of the hormone. The content of ornithine in the kidney was found to be virtually unchanged whatever the type of hormone treatment. No statistically significant increases in renal ornithine decarboxylase activity of hypophysectomized animals were observed after injection of melatonin or of vitamin D3. Since the stimulating hormones possess clearly different mechanisms of action, the role of cyclic AMP as a general mediator of ornithine decarboxylase induction is questioned.