EFFECT OF CORTISONE ON THE GROWTH OF THE VENTRAL PROSTATE, THE DORSOLATERAL PROSTATE, THE COAGULATING GLANDS AND THE SEMINAL VESICLES IN CASTRATED ADRENALECTOMIZED AND CASTRATED NON-ADRENALECTOMIZED RATS

Abstract

The growth of the ventral and the dorsolateral prostate, the coagulating glands and the seminal vesicles was studied in cortisone-treated and non-treated castrated non-adrenalectomized and castrated adrenalectomized rats. The cortisone was administered in daily doses of 3 mg or 9 mg for a period of 15 days. Combined castration and adrenalectomy resulted in a greater degree of atrophy of the ventral prostate than castration alone, thus indicating some maintenance effect of the adrenals on the ventral prostate. No differences in the other accessory reproductive organs were demonstrated when comparing non-treated castrated non-adrenalectomized with castrated adrenalectomized rats. Both doses of cortisone stimulated the growth of the dorsolateral prostate, the coagulating glands and the seminal vesicles, but the larger dose resulted in a greater degree of stimulation. Only the larger dose of cortisone gave histological changes in the ventral prostate indicative of a slight stimulating effect. Catabolic or anti-anabolic effects of cortisone as registered by a decrease in body weight and weight of the levator ani muscle did not inhibit the growth stimulating effect of cortisone on the accessory reproductive organs. Cortisone stimulated the growth of both the epithelium and the smooth muscle tissue of the glands. The effect on the different accessory reproductive organs after cortisone administration was contrary to previous studies, which demonstrated the stimulating effects of androgens in the rat, in that the ventral prostate was relatively unstimulated. Possible mechanisms for the stimulation of the growth of the accessory reproductive organs are discussed in the light of our present knowledge of cortisone metabolism and of the secretion in the cortisone-treated rats of hormones which have been found to modify the growth of the accessory reproductive organs.