HOME HELP CONTACT US SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by BOVINA, C. Articles by MARCHETTI, M. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by BOVINA, C. Articles by MARCHETTI, M.

The early effects of castration and testosterone administration on folic acid metabolism in liver and accessory sex organs were studied in adult male rats. After 3 days, castration did not produce significant variations in the folate coenzyme content of the liver, whereas in the prostate and seminal vesicles it only led to a fall of formylate forms. Testosterone administration did not cause significant changes in normal rats, but in castrated ones it generally raised formylate form levels and lowered the 5-methyltetrahydrofolate content. The capacity to convert folic acid into its activated forms in vivo decreased in castrated animals; after folic acid injection, they eliminated in urine more vitamin and fewer active forms than control rats. Furthermore, the liver content of the reduced forms was less in castrated animals than in intact ones. Testosterone administration partially adjusted this biochemical alteration. Studying in vitro the enzymic activities involved in folate coenzyme metabolism, it was found that the 10-formyltetrahydrofolate synthetase alteration was the more evident and constant one in castrated rats. This enzymic activity was much decreased in the organs studied. The other enzymes showed only a very slight increase in their activity. Testosterone administration to castrated rats not only prevented the fall but stimulated 10-formyltetrahydrofolate synthetase. The present data are discussed in relation to a direct or indirect effect of testosterone on enzymes involved in folate metabolism.