SEX HORMONE CONTROL OF THE ZINC CONTENT OF THE PROSTATE

Abstract

Gonadotrophins and testosterone propionate, administered by subcutaneous injection into immature rats, were found to produce marked increases in the size, zinc concentration, and rate of zinc-65 uptake of the dorsolateral prostate glands. Oestrogen treatment produced a reduction in gland size but no change in the zinc concentration or in the rate of zinc-65 uptake. These results are compared with the findings of other workers and possible reasons for some of the observed differences are discussed. It is postulated that under normal physiological conditions, the male sex hormone is the major factor which controls the accumulation and maintenance of a high concentration of zinc in the dorsolateral prostate of the rat. The accumulation or loss of zinc is not necessarily closely linked with gland growth.