Uterine changes on removal of submaxillary glands in rats (histological changes/uterine peroxidase/blood estradiol level)

Abstract

Surgical removal of submaxillary gland in immature rats causes a large increase in size and about three to four fold increase in dry and wet weight of uterus compared to that of the sham operated animals of the same age group. Histological examination reveals a significant increase in the diameter of the uterus with considerable elongation of the luminer epithelium from cubical to columnar in the experimental group. Biochemical studies show that the uterine peroxidase (donor: hydrogen-peroxide oxidoreductase, EC 1.11.1.7), a marker enzyme for uterine growth, increases by ten to fifteen fold on submaxillariectomy and returns almost to the normal level on administration of submaxillary gland extract (105,000 × g supernatant) to the submaxillariectomized animals. Estrogen estimation by radioimmunoassay shows a similar increase of three to four fold on removal of submaxillary glands and decrease almost to the normal value on administration of the submaxillary extract.