Antizyme Release Is an Early Event in Ornithine Decarboxylase Induction by Hair Plucking

Hair plucking in rats led to a rapid decrease in ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity, while other skin enzymes remained unaffected. The study suggested the presence of an inhibitor, known as antizyme, which was released early during the induction of ODC by hair plucking. Treatment with 10% (NH4)2SO4 increased ODC activity by approximately 75% in enzyme preparations, indicating that antizyme levels increased in plucked skin extracts after such treatment.