Nuclear Uptake and Retention of Androgen by the Accessory Organs in the Male Golden Hamster

Abstract

The nuclear uptake and retention of 3H‐dihydrotestosterone (3H‐DHT) were studied in the reproductive organs of the male hamster by autoradiography. Castrated adult male hamsters were infected with 0.2/μg of 3H‐DHT (107 Cl/mmole/100 g body weight) and sacrificed 1 1/2 hours later. The epididymides, prostate glands, and seminal vesicles were removed and processed for autoradiography. Localization of the androgen was observed in the nuclei of the secretory cells of all three organs. The nuclei of the smooth muscle cells of the muscularis and the connective tissue cells of these organs also demonstrated varying degrees of nuclear labeling. In addition, nuclear uptake was observed in the smooth muscle of the tunica media of the blood vessels of all three organs. In comparison to other studies, the results demonstrate species variation in the uptake of androgens in the accessory reproductive organs and support recent data that suggest that the cardiovascular system is a target organ for androgens.