Postnatal development of the seminal vesicle and prostate

ABSTRACT

Twenty-four albino rats ranging in age from the day of birth to adulthood [120 days] were used in this study. They were divided into eight age groups viz. new born, 5, 10, 12, 15, 18, 27 and 120 days old rats. Each age group consisted of three animals. In the younger age groups [at birth and if five days old rats], the hip joints were disarticulated, the upper abdomen was separated and the pelvis with the lower abdomen were processed en mass. In older age groups [10, 12, 15, 18, 27 and 120 days], the seminal vesicles and the prostate were carefully dissected out of the body. The specimens were oriented on cryostat chucks at -30C and cut serially at 18-20 mum thickness. To demonstrate acetylcholinesterase, iso-OMPA [tetra-isopropyl pyrophosphoramide] in a concentration of 8 x 10-5M was used to inhibit pseudocholinesterase. Sections used as a control were processed after omitting the substrate from the incubating medium. The sections were incubated at 37C for four hours in the incubating medium of pH 5.5-5.6, then they were counterstained with hematoxylin. Results were given in details