THE EFFECT OF STEROIDS AND RELAXIN ON ACID PHOSPHATASE IN THE PUBIC SYMPHYSIS OF THE OVARIECTOMIZED MOUSE

Abstract

SUMMARY The histochemical changes in acid phosphatase activity of the pubic joint of ovariectomized mice treated with various hormones have been studied. Oestrogen administration resulted in marked increase in acid phosphatase activity of the osteoclasts, osteocytes, chondroclasts, young chondrocytes and chondroblasts in addition to bone resorption and transformation of the hyaline cartilage caps of the pubic bones into fibrocartilage. Relaxin, progesterone and cortisone acetate failed to influence the quantity or distribution of the enzyme in the pubic joint of mice primed with oestrogen. Progesterone and cortisone inhibited ligament formation produced by relaxin in oestrogen-treated animals. The results are discussed in relation to the activities of the hormones on the symphysis pubis of the mouse.