Effect of the neonatal steroid hormone treatment of rats on adult hormone levels and the reactivity of seminal vesicles to parasympathomimetic drugs

Seminal vesicle reactivity to cholinergic agents, plasma testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) conmcentrations and seminal vesicle testosterone concentrations were determined in adult male rats treated during the first 6 h of life with 1.0 ml peanut oil (oil-treated), 1.0 mg testosterone propionate (TP-treated) or 1.2 mg 19-nor-testosterone homofarnesate (19-NT-treated). At 90-100 days of age, the neonatally treated animals presented atrophied accessory genital organsand increased (TP-treated, N=10) or unchanged (19-NT-treated, N=11) pD, values for acetylcholine (vehicle; 5.18 ñ 0.06, N=10; TP-treated; 5.26 ñ 0.06, N+10; 19-NT-treated; 5.14 ñ 0.09, , N=11), and acetyyl-beta-methylcholine (vehicle: 5.19 ñ 0.07; TP-treated: 5.43 ñ 0.06; 19-NT-treated 5.25 ñ 0.07). The relative intrinsic activity, alpha, of acetyl-beta-methylcholine increased after both hormonal treatments (vehicle: 0.85 ñ 0.03; TP-treated:0.95 ñ 0.02; 19-NT-treated: 0.92 ñ 0.03). No variation in mean adult plasma testosterone concentration was observed after neonatal treatmentwith either TP or 19-NT (vehicle:752.93 ñ 273.66, N+8; TP-treated; 459.05 ñ 88.32, N=8; 19-NT-treated: 836.86 ñ 113.08, N=7). However, testosterone content of seminal vesicles of adult rats was decreased in the animalstreated with TP (N=5) and 19-NT (N=6) compared to controls. These results indicate a specific effect of neonatal hormone treatment on androgen metabolism which is demonstrable in the adult

Effects of castration and antiandrogens (RU 23908 and cyproterone acetate) on glandulan activity and on the secretory epithelium of the rat submandibular gland

The influence of hormones on the submandibular gland of rodents has attracted more attention since the observation of the sexual dimorphism of these organs. Androgens enhance both the development and secretory activity of the gland. In the present investigation we have studied the differences in wet weight, protein content, glandulain activity and morphometry of granular convoluted tubules of submandibular glands excised from control, castrated and antiandrogen-teated (RU 23908 or cyproterone acetate) male adult albino rats. Castration and antiandrogenic treatment did not affect the wet weight or protein content of the organs. Castration or treatment with RU 23908, but not treatment with cyproterone acetate, decreased glandulain activity and the height of the secretory epithelium of granular ducts. The morphology and glandulain activity of submandibular gland granular ducts do not seem to be related solely to plasma testosterone concentration. Different hormonal treatments are needed to identify other factors implicated in the phenomenon