Effect of testosterone, its 5 alpha-reduced metabolites and the corresponding propionates on testosterone metabolism--II. In the ventral prostate and in the seminal vesicles

The effect of a 6-day treatment with testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, 5α-androstan-3α,17β-diol, and 5α-androstan-3β,17β-diol on testosterone metabolism measured in vitro in the ventral prostate and in the seminal vesicles of adult castrated rats has been investigated. The steroids have been injected both in the free alcohol and in the propionate form at the daily dose of 2 mg/rat. In the ventral prostate, the steroids tested generally have a stimulatory effect on 5α-reductase activity and a strong inhibitory one on 3-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity. In the seminal vesicles, the 5α-reductase is markedly stimulated, and the 3-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase is left unmodified or occasionally stimulated by androgen administration. The 17β-ol dehydrogenase is consistently stimulated in both structures considered only by 5α-androstan-3β,17β-diol and its dipropionated derivative. In conclusion, the data suggest that the different androgens may exert a separate control on the activities of the three enzymes which intervene in the metabolism of testosterone in the ventral prostate and in the seminal vesicles. The effects observed depend both on the type of steroid administered and on the tissue under consideration.