Effect of testosteronephenylpropionate and 19-nortestosteronephenylpropionate on the seminal vesicles, the levator ani muscle and the mammary glands of castrated male rats.

Abstract

ABSTRACT The response of the seminal vesicles, the levator ani muscle and the mammary glands to testosteronephenylpropionate (TPP) and 19-nortestosteronephenylpropionate (19-norTPP) was studied in castrated male rats. The development of these structures was compared with that found in male rats with intact testes. The main results were as follows: 1) Daily injections of 0.01 mg of TPP produced slight weight increase in the seminal vesicles and levator ani muscle and stimulated a slight but obvious lobule-alveolar development in the mammary glands. The same dose of 19-norTPP produced only a minimal weight increase in the seminal vesicles but produced an obvious development of the levator ani muscle and the mammary glands. 2) Daily injections of 0.05 mg of TPP caused a marked weight increase in the seminal vesicles and levator ani muscle and produced a marked lobule-alveolar development in the mammary glands. The same dose of 19-norTPP produced only a slight weight increase in the seminal vesicles but brought about a marked development of the levator ani muscle and the mammary glands. 3) Daily injections of 0.5 mg of 19-norTPP caused a marked development of the seminal vesicles comparable to that found in rats with intact testes. The levator ani muscle and the mammary glands after this treatment were, however, much more stimulated than in rats with intact testes. These results indicate 1) that the ratio between the effects of these compounds on the seminal vesicles and on the Ievator ani muscle depends on the dose-level and 2) that the development of the mammary glands is correlated more to the growth of the Ievator ani muscle than to the development of the seminal vesicles.