Studies on the prostate glands of adult inbred LSH hamsters.
We have studied several parameters of prostate function in two inbred lines (2.4 and SsLak) of young and old LSH hamsters. These included weight, acid phosphatase, and [3H]testosterone uptake as influenced by age, castration, and androgen treatment. In the hamster, prostatic acid phosphatase concentration was found to vary inversely with androgen levels, contrary to the usual assumption that this enzyme is androgen dependent. Prostatic uptake of tritiated testosterone was enhanced by castration and by treatment of castrates with doses of androgen which induced a moderate increase in gland size. With advancing age, the prostates of LSH hamsters (both strains) became atrophic rather than hyperplastic, in contrast with a previous report (1). This atrophy appeared to be a consequence of decreased testicular function. The LSH hamsters appear to be a suitable model for the study of senescent changes in the male reproductive system.
D000135:Acid Phosphatase / Q000032:analysis*; D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D002369:Castration; D006224:Cricetinae; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size; D011467:Prostate / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D012669:Seminal Vesicles; D013737:Testis; D013739:Testosterone / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D014316:Tritium
D014316:Tritium; D013739:Testosterone; D000135:Acid Phosphatase