THE PHYSIOLOGY OF THE PROSTATE GLAND

Abstract

This review deals with the prostate gland of the [male] in man and other spp., except for a brief allusion to its [female] counterpart. The gland is not essential to life or fertility, nor has it any endocrine function. The phases of the subject dealt with are: 1. The normal amount of prostatic fluid and its variation with hormones, drugs, nerve stimulation, hyperplasia, starvation, and prevention of outflow. 2. Pharmacodynamic effects of the secretion. 3. Its composition, inorganic, organic, enzyme, drug, and lipid. 4. Its effect on spermatozoa. 5. Time of emptying of prostate during ejaculation. 6. Metabolism of isolated prostate tissue. 7. Relation of endocrines to the prostate function. 8. The coagulating portion of the gland in some spp. 9. Benign prostatic hypertrophy.