Failure of induced functional activity and cell deficit to restore preoperative cell number in paired accessory sex glands following unilateral ablation in castrated male mice

Abstract

AbstractThe proliferative response to testosterone propionate in the accessory sex glands of castrated male Balb/c mice has been studied when the glands were intact, and when the glands were unilaterally ablated. The response was analysed by serial measurements of DNA and weight, and by 3H‐thymidine labelling techniques. When stimulation is started at three days after castration, most seminal vesicle cells of intact glands carry out DNA synthesis to restore preoperative cell number, whilst the smaller reduction in coagulating gland DNA prior to stimulation results in only about 30% of cells carrying out DNA synthesis to restore former levels. In the unilaterally ablated glands of the 3‐day castrates, the cell kinetics of stimulated DNA synthesis and the net accumulation of DNA were similar to the intact glands. A much larger deficit in DNA was apparent in all glands of unstimulated 14‐day castrates, resulting in a much larger net accumulation of DNA following testosterone stimulation. No difference between intact and unilaterally ablated glands was detected, and despite prolonged stimulation DNA levels did not exceed preoperative values. Unlike gland DNA levels, gland weights exceeded those of non‐castrated mice following prolonged stimulation. However, unilateral ablation did not result in further weight increases in the remaining contralateral glands. It is concluded that the absence of the contralateral sex gland is not detected by the remaining partner during the response to the combined stimuli of a reduction in cell number (resulting from androgen deprivation), and testosterone propionate administration.