Effect of Desiccated Beef Testis Upon Sex Glands of the Rat

Abstract

The prostate gland of the rat shows a marked increase in weight in aged males.1 McGee2 and Gallagher and Koch3 have shown that the testicular hormone of the beef testis is lipoid soluble. Moore and McGee4 state that the lipoid fraction of the beef testis possesses the same activity as the internal secretion of the testis, judged by its effect on spermatozoa in isolated epididymes.We have fed beef testis to mature male rats in an attempt to determine whether it might have any effect on the increase in weight of the prostate gland, as it tends to occur in the aging animals. The testes were ground and desiccated at 65°C., without removal of fat or extractives. The desiccated testis was then refrigerated and fed in 0.2 gm. amounts, 5 times a week.The experimental animals gave no visible evidence of departure from the condition of litter-mate controls. When sacrificed however, the testes, prostate gland and seminal vesicles were found to be considerably smaller than in the control animals. There was no contras...