Secretory function of the prostate, seminal vesicle and other male accessory organs of reproduction.

Abstract

The secretory activity of male accessory organs of reproduction such as the prostate, seminal vesicle, Cowper's gland and similar organs, differs in many ways from that of other secretory organs in the animal body. DEPENDENCE ON ANDROGENS One of the characteristics, which is perhaps most remarkable and in some ways unique, is the specific dependence of the function of organs such as the prostate and seminal vesicle upon the presence of androgenic stimuli. In its extreme form this dependence is clearly reflected in the well documented and much studied set of phenomena of post-castrate involution and testosterone-induced resumption of growth in the accessory organs. Testosterone acts on the male accessory organs directly, without having first to undergo metabolic alteration in the animal body. Convincing proof of such direct action was provided by an experiment recently carried out on bull seminal vesicles in vivo, in which testosterone was injected locally into