Testosterone control of nucleic acid content and proliferation of epithelium and stroma in rat seminal vesicles

Abstract

Tissue wet weight, nucleic acid content and epithelial and stromal cell numbers were measured in the seminal vesicles of sexually mature male rats. After castration, tissue weight and RNA decreased rapidly and in aprallel to reach, after 14 days, values only 15-20% of those in control (not castrated) animals. During this period, DNA decreased to a much lesser extent (by about 40%), but this change in DNA correlates well with the observed loss of cells from the epithelium. Testosterone in vivo promoted an immediate resynthesis of RNA, the value characteristic of control animals being reached within 80h. Delays occurred in the hormone-induced regain of tissue weight (30h) and DNA (40h), each of which preceded proliferation of the epithelium (40--50h). The cells of the stroma were unaffected by these changes in the androgenic statls of the animal. It is suggested that these proliferative changes in the epithelium cannot account for the previously reported induction by testosterone of basic secretory proteins in this tissue.

Gonadal defects and hormonal alterations in transgenic mice expressing a single chain human chorionic gonadotropin–lutropin receptor complex

“…The increase in testosterone in YHR + mice at the prepubertal ages of 3-5 weeks is accompanied by an increase in the weights of the seminal vesicles. This increase is reflective of the well-established role of testosterone on seminal vesicle growth and differentiation (Higgins et al 1976, Gonzales 2001. Interestingly, the dramatic differences in testosterone levels between WT and YHR + mice observed at prepubertal ages (3 and 5 weeks) are not apparent at adult ages (8 and 12 weeks) even though YHR expression can be detected in the testis at these ages (Fig.…”

Immunohistochemical Study of Metallothionein in Human Seminal Vesicles.

“…The physiological function of the seminal vesicles is regulated by androgen (Mathieson and Hays 1945;Higgins et al 1976), and the function of androgen is suppressed by the estrogenic and LH-RH agonistic therapies for prostate cancer. In patients treated with hormone therapy, the strongly positive cells for MT decreased, and the secretory products had no immunoreaction.…”

Use of a cloned double stranded cDNA coding for a major androgen dependent protein in rat seminal vesicle secretion: the effect of testosterone in gene expression

“…SVS protein IV has been described (1,2,3,4) and the amino acid sequence has been deduced (13). The biological function of protein IV is still unknown but considering that this protein represents 25-30% of the seminal vesicle protein-synthetic output an important role in reproduction seems very likely.…”

“…In rat seminal vesicle there is a small set of polypeptides representing 30-50% of the proteins synthesized by the vesicle and the synthesis of these proteins is controlled by androgens (1,2,3,4). The abundant class of poly(A+)RNA coding for these polypeptides has been isolated and characterized (5).…”