Sex differences and androgenic regulation of esterases in the house mouse

The distribution of molecular forms of esterases in serum, liver and kidney from NMRI, C57BL/6 and A/J mice and the effect of testosterone propionate on the zymograms were investigated. It was found that the different tissues are specific in the pattern of esterases and that, especially in serum and kidney, the distribution of esterases is highly sex specific. Sex hormones are responsible for this. Administration of testosterone has an effect on the amounts of esterases in both sexes, primarily reducing the normal sex differences.