ENDOCRINE INFLUENCES ON SEMINAL VESICLES IN THE ESTUARINE GOBIID FISH,GILLICHTHYS MIRABILIS

It is well known that epithelial hyperplasia (benign hypertrophy) is common in the aging prostate of dogs and man. In contrast, little evidence is available for abnormal epithelial cell growth in seminal vesicles of aging animals. Recently, enlarged seminal vesicles were reported in senescent mice, however, that enlargement resulted from increased storage of secretion in the lumen and occurred concomitant to epithelial hypoplasia in that species.The present study is concerned with electron microscopic observations of changes occurring in the pseudostratified epithelium of the seminal vescles of aging rats. Special attention is given to certain non-epithelial cells which have entered the epithelial layer.

Download Full-text

METABOLISM AND MODE OF ACTION OF ANDROGENS IN TARGET TISSUES OF MALE RATS

Acta Endocrinologica ◽

10.1530/acta.0.0690165 ◽

1972 ◽

Vol 69 (1) ◽

pp. 165-173 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

H. Schmidt ◽

I. Noack ◽

K. D. Voigt

Keyword(s):

Cell Proliferation ◽

Cell Metabolism ◽

Seminal Vesicles ◽

Male Rats ◽

Ventral Prostate ◽

Nucleic Acid Content ◽

The Difference ◽

Independent Effects ◽

Sites Of Action ◽

Peripheral Metabolism

ABSTRACT The effect of testosterone and 5α-dihydrotestosterone on protein and nucleic acid content as well as on the activities of some enzymes has been studied in the ventral prostate and the seminal vesicles of immature castrated rats. Both androgens were given intraperitoneally in doses of 1 mg daily for one or three days the rats were sacrificed one day after the last injection. In the prostate it was found that 5α-dihydrotestosterone had a greater effect on DNA increase, i. e. cell proliferation than testosterone, whereas cell metabolism was stimulated by the two androgens to nearly the same extent. In the seminal vesicles a single dose led to the same results as had been obtained in the prostate, i. e. a greater cell proliferative action of 5α-dihydrotestosterone and an equal stimulation of cell metabolism by testosterone and 5α-dihydrotestosterone was also observed. When three doses of the two androgens were given, cell proliferation as well as cell metabolism in the seminal vesicles were significantly more increased after 5α-dihydrotestosterone than after testosterone. The difference of action after systemic administration of the two androgens is explained by their different accumulation and by their different peripheral metabolism in the target tissues. From the partly independent effects of various androgens on cell proliferation and cell metabolism the conclusion may be drawn that there exist at least two intracellular sites of action.

Download Full-text

REGULATION OF THE ACTIVITIES OF THE ENZYMES INVOLVED IN THE METABOLISM OF STEROID HORMONES IN RAT LIVER: THE EFFECT OF 19-NORTESTOSTERONE AND THE INFLUENCE OF CYPROTERONE ACETATE ON THE ACTION OF TESTOSTERONE AND 5α-DIHYDROTESTOSTERONE

Acta Endocrinologica ◽

10.1530/acta.0.0770287 ◽

1974 ◽

Vol 77 (2) ◽

pp. 287-297 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Rüdiger Ghraf ◽

Edmund Rodney Lax ◽

Hanns-Georg Hoff ◽

Herbert Schriefers

Keyword(s):

Weight Loss ◽

Body Weight ◽

Rat Liver ◽

Enzyme Activities ◽

Cyproterone Acetate ◽

Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase ◽

Seminal Vesicles ◽

Normal Male ◽

Steroid Hydroxylases ◽

Drug Leads

ABSTRACT The androgens testosterone and 5α-dihydrotestosterone, the anabolic drug 19-nortestosterone and the anti-androgen cyproterone acetate were investigated with regard to their modifying action on the sexual differentiation of the activities of rat liver enzymes involved in steroid hormone metabolism. The activities of the enzymes (Δ4-5α-hydrogenase, 20-ketoreductase, 3α-and 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, NAD- and NADP-dependent Δ4-3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, total steroid hydroxylases, 7α- and 16α-hydroxylase) were determined in cell-free liver fractions of male animals castrated on day 25 of life and killed on day 90; and of castrated animals which, from day 75 to 89 received daily sc injections (0.3 mg/100 g body weight) of the anabolic drug or the androgen only or in combination with cyproterone acetate (3 mg/100 g body weight). With the exception of 7α-hydroxylase castration leads to a feminization of the enzyme activity pattern. However, the degree of feminization varies from enzyme to enzyme. The administration of testosterone or of 5α-dihydrotestosterone reverses the effect of castration. With 5α-dihydrotestosterone activity values were reached which in some cases were significantly higher than those obtained with testosterone. Although both androgens restored the enzyme activities to the normal male values, neither androgen was able to compensate for the weight loss of the seminal vesicles in the dose administered. The administration of 19-nortestosterone in the same dose as testosterone is only 30 % as effective in restoring the weight loss of the seminal vesicles, but leads to identical activities of Δ4-5α-hydrogenase and of hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases as are found for testosterone. 19-Nortestosterone is without influence on the activities of total steroid hydroxylases and of 16α-hydroxylase. 16α-Hydroxylase is the only enzyme in which the activity enhancing effects of testosterone or of 5α-dihydrotestosterone can be completely blocked by the simultaneous administration of the anti-androgen cyproterone acetate. In all other enzyme activities the anti-androgen does not interfere with the effect of the androgens although it blocks their action on the weight restitution of the seminal vesicles by 60–70 %. 7α-Hydroxylase does not exhibit any androgen dependency. Neither castration nor the subsequent administration of the two androgens, or of the anabolic drug leads to any alterations in activity. However, it is interesting to note that the administration of cyproterone acetate does cause an increase in activity.

Download Full-text