title: Acid phosphatase activity in gerbil prostate: comparative study in male and female during postnatal development.
abstract: The prostate is present in both male and female mammals. It is composed of secretory epithelium, connective stroma, smooth muscle and neuroendocrine cells, which are under hormonal regulation. Acid phosphatases catalyze the hydrolysis of orthophosphate monoesters. We have compared the expression of acid phosphatases in gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus) prostate glands in both sexes using young, adult and old animals. Eighteen prostates were isolated, frozen, sectioned, fixed, incubated with sodium beta-glycerophosphate sodium, washed with acetate buffer solution, treated with ammonium sulfide and counterstained with Methyl-Green aqueous solution. Ultracytochemical analyses were also conducted. This substrate revealed total acid phosphatase activity. The expression of the enzyme was heterogeneous, occurring in all ages during postnatal development. The data revealed that the female prostate matured before the male prostate. In addition, acid phosphatase activity in both sexes was regulated by androgen variation concomitant with development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology, UNICAMP, Campinas, SP., PO Box 6109, 13084-971 Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana Maria Galvan
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Custódio
authors.forename: Rejane Maira
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Góes
authors.forename: Sebastião Roberto
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Taboga
mesh_terms: D000135:Acid Phosphatase / Q000378:metabolism*; D000728:Androgens / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005849:Gerbillinae; D008297:Male; D011467:Prostate / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000254:growth & development*
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens; D000135:Acid Phosphatase