CORRELATION BETWEEN PROSTATIC GLUTATHIONE-PEROXIDASE (GSH-PO) AND TESTOSTERONE-ADMINISTRATION

In order to confirm the relationship between testosterone- administration and glutathione-peroxidase (GSH-PO) in the rat ventral prostate, we have studied the levels of GSH-PO mRNA, GSH-PO activity, and lipid peroxide value in the ventral prostate under the presence or absence of androgen. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four experimental groups. Group 1 consisted of intact controls. In group 2, rats were sacrificed two days after castration. In groups 3 and 4, rats were administered subcutaneously I mg/animal of testosterone-propionate daily for three or seven days after two days of castration. The prostatic GSH-PO mRNA levels were diminished in the castrated rat ventral prostate but greatly increased by testosterone (Groups 3 and 4). Furthermore, GSH-PO activity was increased and the TBA value was decreased by testosterone-administration (Groups 4). These findings strongly suggest that expression of GSH-PO in the glandular epithelial cells of the rat ventral prostate is considered to be testosterone-dependent.