ENDOCRINE DEPENDENCE OF RAT PROSTATIC TISSUE IN VITRO

Abstract

Studies of in vitro growth of rat prostatic tissues under different endocrine conditions are described. Addition of testosterone, androsterone or estradiol had no effect on growth rate. Cultures grown in cockerel or hen plasma showed no significant difference in growth rate, but those grown in capon plasma showed a significant decrease in growth rate. Although the capon effect disappears 2 weeks after castration, it is not a nonspecific postoperative one, as was demonstrated by sham operation (splenectomy), which did not produce such an effect. The capon effect could not be compensated for by administration of androgens to the capon, or increased by administration of estrogens. This effect could be produced in plasma from a 3-week-old capon, by treatment with hypophyseal hormones, indicating a possible gonadotropic effect on prostatic tissue grown in vitro.