Metabolic Reduction of Acetohexamide in Rat Kidney : Sex Difference and Effect of Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetes

Abstract

The acetohexamide reductase activity in 10000×g supernatant fluids of kidney homogenates was significantly higher in male than in female rats. Although difference in activity of acetohexamide reductase in the cytosol between the sexes was not observed, the activity in the microsomes was considerably higher in male than in female rats. These findings indicate that the microsomal enzyme plays an important role in the sex difference of acetohexamide reduction by 10000×g supernatant fluids of kidney homogenates. The sensitivities to inhibitors of microsomal acetohexamide reductase were different from those of cytosolic acetohexamide reductase. Furthermore, streptozotocin-induced diabetes significantly decreased acetohexamide reductase activity only in the kidney microsomes of male rats, resulting in the abolishment of the sex difference of acetohexamide reduction by 10000×g supernatant fluids of kidney homogenates.