Ventral Prostate Structure and Serum Testosterone Levels After Chronic Treatment with Isoproterenol in Adult Rats with Different Androgen Status

Abstract

The effects of chronic administration of the β-adrenergic agonist isoproterenol (ISO) (120 μg/kg per day; subcutaneously) on the ventral prostate structure and serum testosterone concentrations were examined in adult rats with different androgen status: intact, intact testosterone-injected (1 mg/ rat), surgically and chemically castrated rats. Chemical castration was evoked by an intraperitoneal injection of ethane dimethanesulfonate (EDS) (75 mg/kg). A ventral prostate response was only observed in intact and chemically castrated animals. Stereological analysis revealed atrophic changes in the glandular compartment of the prostate of ISO-treated intact rats, but they were probably the consequence of significantly decreased serum testosterone levels. In addition, in these animals alterations were found in the morphometrical parameters of the ventral prostate blood vessels, their relative and total volumes being increased. In chemically castrated rats, administration of ISO from the day of EDS application partially prevented the postcastrational regression of the ventral prostate without affecting blood testosterone level. However, it seems that the discharge of glandular secretion was attenuated at the same time. These results show that chronic treatment with ISO may have both stimulatory and inhibitory effects on the rat ventral prostate depending on the androgen status of the animals and, accordingly, on the site of ISO-action.

Key Words:

• ethane dimethanesulfonate
• isoproterenol
• stereology
• surgical castration
• testosterone
• ventral prostate