THE ACID PHOSPHATASE CONCENTRATION OF THE PROSTATIC EXPRIMATE DURING NORMAL PUBERTY*

Abstract

A SIMPLE rapid method of measuring androgenic activity is greatly needed. The determination of the acid phosphatase concentration of the prostatic exprimate seems to supply a practical and reliable means of estimating the androgenic function in children and young adults. Acid phosphatase with an activity optimum near pH 5 is found in a very high concentration in the prostatic secretion of normal young men, the mean value for ages 20 to 40 years being 14,400 units per ml. (1). Between the ages of 40 and 100 years the phosphatase activity of the prostatic exprimate shows a gradual decline to an average value of 3,730 units per ml. for individuals over the age of 80 (1). As demonstrated by Kirk(2) this decline seems to be conditioned, at least partly, by involutionary changes in the prostatic gland. The existence in older children and in younger adults of a correlation between the androgenic activity and the secretion of acid phosphatase by the prostate has been substantiated particularly through recent extensive studies by From Hansen (3, 4), who showed that patients with clinical signs of hypogonadism have either a low acid phosphatase concentration or none in the prostatic exprimate. He further demonstrated that treatment of such persons with chorionic gonadotropin or testosterone usually is capable of bringing about increased production of enzyme by the gland.