The growth of the ventral prostate, the dorsolateral prostate, the coagulating glands and the seminal vesicles in castrated adrenalectomized rats injected with oestradiol and-or cortisone.

Abstract

ABSTRACT The growth of the ventral and dorsolateral prostate, the coagulating glands and the seminal vesicles was studied morphologically in castrated adrenalectomized male rats following daily injections for sixteen days of oestradiol benzoate or cortisone acetate alone, or in combination. Oestradiol was given in daily doses of 0.001 mg or 0.010 mg. Cortisone was administered in daily doses of 1 mg or 3 mg. After oestradiol alone the histological examination revealed an increase in the amount of fibromuscular tissue especially in the coagulating glands and the seminal vesicles but no signs of secretory activity in the epithelium. Cortisone alone induced a moderate stimulation of the epithelium in all the accessory reproductive organs but no signs of secretory activity were observed in the ventral prostate. Oestradiol and cortisone given in combination induced pronounced proliferation of the epithelium in all the accessory reproductive organs. After this treatment the epithelium of the ventral prostate also showed signs of secretory activity. The response of the epithelium in all the accessory reproductive organs was dependent on the size of the dose of both oestradiol and cortisone. Cortisone counteracted the fibromuscular overgrowth especially observed in the coagulating glands and the seminal vesicles after oestradiol given alone. The individual smooth muscle cells, however, were better developed after the combined treatment. The effects of the combined treatment are discussed in the light of the present knowledge of the individual effects of oestradiol and cortisone on the accessory reproductive organs. The importance of including a histological examination in experiments on hormonal dependent growth of the accessory reproductive organs of male rats is emphasized.