Histological and morphometric study of testosterone effects on the ventral prostate in the adult albino rat

This study was carried out to throw light on the histological and morphometric changes induced in the ventral prostate of the adult albino rat, when injected with testosterone-enanthate for 6 months. Twenty adult male rats were used, which were divided into two groups [control and experimental]. The control group consisted of five rats two of which were not injected [normal control], but the remaining three rats [sham control] were injected once weekly for 6 months with I.M.0.2m1 olive oil vehicle. The experimental group consisted of fifteen animals; each animal was injected once weekly for 6 months with I.M. testosterone-enanthate in a dose of 4.5mg/200g b.w. dissolved in 0.2m1 olive oil. Specimens from the ventral lobe of the prostate gland were taken and processed for light and electron microscopic examination. Morphometric measurements were done using image analyzer computer system and the data obtained were statistically analyzed. The present work revealed that injection of testosterone for 6 months induced marked histological and morphometric changes as follows; Light microscopic examination revealed enlargement of the prostatic acini with marked infolding of the lining epithelium, which showed blebs and extrusion of secretory globules. The cytoplasm showed numerous apical secretory vacuoles. The interacinar fibromuscular stroma showed marked increase of its thickness with congestion and dilatation of the blood vessels. On the contrary, the basal cells appeared normal as compared with control. Electron microscopic examination showed that, the nuclei of the epithelial cells appeared either indented with prominent nucleoli and dispersed chromatin or irregular with condensed chromatin. The cytoplasm contained many secretory granules and different sized vacuoles, numerous mitochondria and secondary lysosomes with dilatation of the rER and Golgi apparatus. Morphometric and statistical study revealed a very highly significant increase in the mean height and number of the epithelial cells with a mild significant increase in the mean value of the area% of the secretory vacuoles in comparison to the control group. So, it could be concluded that testosterone therapy for 6 months induces histological and morphometric changes in the ventral prostate of the adult albino rat, which, should be taken into consideration during testosterone therapy