Action and Interaction of Hormones and 3-Methycholanthrene on the Ventral Prostate Gland of the Rat In Vitro. I. Testosterone and Methylcholanthrene

Abstract

The effect of testosterone and 3-methylcholanthrene, applied singly and combined, on organ cultures of the ventral prostate gland of the rat, in natural and semidefined medium, was studied. In medium without added hormone the glandular epithelium regressed. The regression was more severe in the natural medium and was accompanied by a marked increase of stroma. Testosterone inhibited the stromal growth and partially maintained the epithelium in the natural medium; in the semidefined medium it fully maintained the epithelium and preserved secretory activity. After more prolonged treatment testosterone induced mild epithelial hyperplasia. 3-Methylcholanthrene caused rapid and extensive hyperplasia of the alveolar epithelium. After transfer to control medium the hyperplasia persisted. Simultaneous administration of testosterone and 3-methylcholan-threne and transfer of explants pretreated with 3-methylcholanthrene to medium containing testosterone resulted in a drastic inhibition of the hyperplasia caused by the carcinogen. It is suggested that the interaction of the two substances may take place at the lysosomal level.