Acid phosphatases in the human testis after prolonged estrogen treatment.

Abstract

The testes of 2 autopsied adult men and 6 subjects, suffering from prostatic carcinoma, were analysed for acid phosphatase activities, Two of the prostatic patients had been receiving estrogen treatment at least for a year and had completely regressed testes. Testes of other subjects contained well-defined tubules with different spermatogenic cells in abundance. The total acid phosphatase activity, assayed in the homogenate, showed a marked reduction in the testes of estrogen-treated subjects. Enzymes were separated by cellulose chromatography or by gel filtration combined with cellulose chromatography. Three activity peaks were resolved by the former and four by the latter technique, when homogenates of the control testes were used. In contrast, two to three strongly reduced activities could be discerned from the testes of estrogen-treated subjects. The specific activity of each enzyme after fractionation was compared between control and regressed testes. No difference was observed in the activities of enzyme I. Enzyme II was markedly reduced in the regressed testes, but was clearly present. Enzymes III and IV were either totally absent or showed a marked reduction in the regressed testes. It is suggested that a correlation exists between the destruction of germ cells, as a consequence of estrogen treatment, and the marked reduction in the activity of enzymes III and IV.