Effect of castration on prostaglandin-mediated changes in membrane potential and prostaglandin synthesis in guinea-pig seminal vesicle tissue.
Arachidonic acid stimulated an increase in transmural electrical potential difference (p.d.) in guinea-pig seminal vesicle tissue in vitro. Pretreatment with indomethacin abolished this response. Indomethacin pretreatment did not prevent the p.d. from increasing in response to theophylline. Changes in p.d. in response to arachidonic acid were greatly attenuated, and the response to theophylline was abolished in seminal vesicle tissue taken from castrated guinea-pigs. Seminal vesicles, aorta and ileum taken from castrated guinea-pigs synthesized and released more prostaglandins than did those from control animals. It is concluded that the effects of arachidonic acid on p.d. are mediated by its metabolism to prostaglandins; the inability of seminal vesicles from castrated animals to respond to arachidonic acid is not a result of a decrease in prostaglandin production, but is more likely a result of other degenerative changes attendant upon castration; and androgens appear to have some regulatory function on prostaglandin synthesis in a variety of tissues.
D000818:Animals; D016718:Arachidonic Acid; D001095:Arachidonic Acids / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007213:Indomethacin / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D008564:Membrane Potentials; D011453:Prostaglandins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*; D012669:Seminal Vesicles / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D013737:Testis / Q000502:physiology*; D013806:Theophylline / Q000494:pharmacology
D001095:Arachidonic Acids; D011453:Prostaglandins; D016718:Arachidonic Acid; D013806:Theophylline; D007213:Indomethacin