Effect of short-term treatment of eugenol on the seminal vesicles of adult albino rats.

The structure and biochemical content of adult albino rat seminal vesicles, were studied, after administration of two different doses of eugenol for 10 days (0.2 and 0.3 mg/kg/day, i.m.). Marked decreases in the concentrations of nucleic acids, fructose and total protein as well as RNA/DNA ratio (61%) and protein/DNA ratio (27%) were observed. A remarkable increase in phospholipid concentration was noted with a corresponding decrease in neutral lipids. Histologically, eugenol treated animals showed degeneration of the secretory columnar cells and well developed myofibrillar connective tissues when compared to control animals.

Effect of Foeniculum vulgare Mill. seed extract on the genital organs of male and female rats.

Following the oral administration of acetone extract of Foeniculum vulgare (fennel) seeds for 15 days is male rats, total protein concentration was found to be significantly decreased in testes and vas deferens and increased in seminal vesicles and prostate gland. There was a decrease in activities of acid and alkaline phosphatase in all these regions, except that alkaline phosphatase was unchanged in vasa. In female rats, oral administration of the extract for 10 days led to vaginal cornification and oestrus cycle. While moderate doses caused increase in weight of mammary glands, higher doses increased the weight of oviduct, endometrium, myometrium, cervix and vagina also. The results confirm the oestrogenic activity of the seed extract.

Adenosine triphosphatase systems in genital tract of testosterone treated male adult monkeys.

Studies on the distribution of Na+, K+-dependent, Mg2+ dependent and Ca2+ dependent Adenosine Triphosphatase (ATP-ases) in the testes, epididymis, seminal vesicles and prostate glands of mature bonnet monkeys were carried out with and without Testosterone propionate (TP) treatment. Comparatively, the Ca2+ dependent ATP-ase was very active in the testes, caput and cauda epididymis and prostate of control animals. However, the Mg2+-dependent ATP-ase activity was predominant in the seminal vesicles. In all the genital tissues the Na+, K+ dependent ATP-ase exhibited low activity compared to other ATP-ase systems. On TP treatment at 1 mg/kg body wt. dose for 30 consecutive days to the second group of animals, all classes of ATP-ases drastically decreased in the testes, cauda epididymis, seminal vesicles and prostate. While in caput epididymis the Mg2+-dependent ATP-ase was stimulated, the Na+, K+-dependent ATP-ase was decreased both in the caput and corpus epididymis by the hormone treatment. The present study reveals the general inhibitory influence on the ATP-ase systems and thereby ionic transport after long term TP administration.

Influence of sex steroids and prolactin on rat mammary gland.

The effect of sex steroids and prolactin on rat mammary glands. Estradiol-17 beta alone was found to increase the protein concentration significantly. Progesterone increased LDH and G-6-PD activities whereas Estradiol and Prolactin decreased LDH activity. G-6-PD activity was increased by estradiol and prolactin. Glycogen concentration was decreased by prolactin alone. Further, these hormones increased the percentage of total 'M' subunits and decreased total 'H' subunits of LDH. In general, sex steroids and prolactin increased glycogen utilisation and prepared the Mammary Gland or anaerobic metabolism.

Hormonal influences on the oviducal lactate dehydrogenase and its isoenzymes.

Changes in the specific activities and distribution of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) isoenzymes have been studied in the oviduct of intact, ovariectomized and ovariectomized-hormone treated rats. Total LDH and M-subunits were higher in the oviduct during estrus compared to early diestrus phase. Ovariectomy lowered the total activity as well as the proportion of H and M-subunits of LDH, with a total loss of LDH. Treatment of ovariectomized rats with progesterone (2 mg/100 g. body wt/rat/day) and estradiol-17 beta (0.5 microgram/100 g body wt/rat/day) for 7 consecutive days induced marked augmentations in the total activities of this oviducal enzyme. Further, there was a shift in the isoenzyme patterns towards M-type, especially LDH5. Prolactin (400 microgram/100 g body wt/rat/day) depressed the total LDH activity and the distribution of isoenzymes. While LDH4 and LDH5 were very low, LDH1--LDH3, were inclusive, were absent in the oviduct of prolactin-treated group. None of the hormonal replacements could stimulate the LDH4 - subunit. The significance of these changes has been discussed in relation to metabolic activities in the tissue and hormonal influences.