Testosterone dependent regulation of growth and DNA synthesis in rat prostate

ABSTRACT

The prostate of the adult rat is dependent on a continuous supply of androgen to maintain its normal growth and function. In the present study it was found that the weight of the prostate was significantly reduced to 38.2% of the control weight at 7 days after castration, and reached 22.9% of the control weight after 4 weeks of castration. As early as one week after castration, the strong activity of alkaline phosphatases, normally observed, showed an apparent irregular decrease. With more advanced period, the enzyme activity continues to decrease to be apparently weak, two weeks of castration. It was found that the total prostatic DNA was reduced to 34% of the control after two weeks in castrated rats and reached 22.5% of the control after 4 weeks of castration. With commencement of testosterone treatment, the prostatic weight started to be restored, reaching 83.7% of the normal weight after two weeks of treatment. Furthermore, DNA content started to increase with testosterone treatment, reaching 93% of the control after one week and exceeded the control after two weeks. These results suggested that DNA is mostly regulated by testosterone, and hence playing an important role in the regulation of prostatic cellular proliferation