THE INFLUENCE OF SEX HORMONE STATUS ON THE SUSCEPTIBILITY OF MICE TO CHLOROFORM-INDUCED NECROSIS OF THE RENAL TUBULES

Abstract

SUMMARY 1. Adult male mice of two strains developed extensive necrosis of the renal tubules after exposure to low concentrations of chloroform vapour. Adult females showed no renal damage after equivalent exposures. 2. Adult females became fully susceptible to necrosis after treatment with androgens. The susceptibility of males was greatly reduced by treatment with oestrogens. 3. Castration removed the susceptibility of the males in one strain but did not completely remove it in another. The residual susceptibility of castrates was abolished by adrenalectomy. 4. Male mice under 11 days old were insusceptible to necrosis even after massive doses of androgen. Between 11 and 30 days they were susceptible if given androgen. Thereafter they became spontaneously susceptible. 5. Liver damage occurred in nearly all exposed mice and was not correlated with sex hormone status. 6. Susceptibility could be induced in gonadectomized mice by methyl testosterone, testosterone propionate, dehydroepiandrosterone and progesterone, and by large doses of cortisone acetate. 7. Preliminary exposure to carbon tetrachloride completely protected susceptible males against renal damage by chloroform.