抄録
The rate of 5α-reduction and 17β-dehydrogenation of testosterone added in vitro, the activity of Na+, K+-insensitive ATPase, and the content of citrate were determined in the ventral prostate of rats of various ages and of castrated animals with and without testosterone replacement therapy.
The rate of 5α-reduction of testosterone changed significantly with aging of the gland, while no significant changes were observed in the rate of 17β-dehydrogenation of testosterone and ATPase activity in all animals used in this experiment. Although the rate of 5α-reduction in the old rat was very low, testosterone treatment increased the rate markedly. Castration caused a significant decrease in the rate of 5α-reduction, and the administration of testosterone restored the rate to the control level. This rate of 5α-reduction recovered to the control level on the 4th day after a testosterone treatment had been started prior to complete growth of the tissue in the castrated animals. These changes of the rate of 5α-reduction proceeded those of the citrate content of the gland.
Physiological significance of 5α-reduction of testosterone in the rat ventral prostate was discussed.
