ABSTRACT
Changes in the activities of acid and alkaline phosphatase were observed in the testis, prostate and seminal vesicle after the injection of lithium chloride at the doses of 100, 200 and 400 micrograms/100 g body weight/day for 7, 14 and 21 days. The studies indicate that 200 and 400 micrograms/100 g body weight for 14 days and 21 days showed a significant inhibition in the activity of acid phosphatase in all the above reproductive organs. There is a significant stimulation of alkaline phosphatase activity at the doses of 200 and 400 micrograms of lithium after 21 days of treatment in testis, prostate and seminal vesicle along with significant decrease in accessory sex organs weight in comparison to control animal. Therefore, it is evident that the effect of lithium on male reproductive organs mainly depends on the amount of the drug being injected and the duration of treatment to it.
Subject(s)
Acid Phosphatase/metabolism , Alkaline Phosphatase/metabolism , Animals , Body Weight , Chlorides/administration & dosage , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Genitalia, Male/enzymology , Lithium/administration & dosage , Lithium Chloride , Male , Prostate/drug effects , Rats , Rats, Inbred Strains , Seminal Vesicles/drug effects , Testis/drug effectsABSTRACT
The effect of prolactin secreted from pituitary homografts under renal capsule of castrated young male rats (30 days old) either alone or in combination with testosterone propionate (TP) on accessory sex organs were studied. Fresh weights of seminal vesicle, prostate coagulating glands and preputial glands were recorded as well as the total protein content and acid phosphatase activity in prostate and seminal vesicle was determined. Prolactin secreted from grafted tissue along or in combination with TP significantly increased the weights of sex accessories but no clear synergism was evident. However, synergism between prolactin and TP was observed in stimulating protein content and acid phosphatase activity of prostate and seminal vesicle. The results indicate that prolactin can act directly and also synergistically with androgen to maintain certain aspects of the functions of accessory sex glands in male rats.