Estradiol-progesterone-induced growth of the rat dorsolateral prostate: Effects on protein phosphorylation

The combination of estradiol and progesterone can affect growth of the rat dorsolateral prostate by a mechanism that appears to be independent from androgen‐mediated activity. The effects of estradiol and progesterone on protein kinase activity and endogenous protein phosphorylation in the castrate rat dorsolateral prostate were compared with androgenic effects on these intracellular events. Differences in protein kinase activity and protein phosphorylation were found with each type of hormonal therapy. Changes in protein kinase activity and protein phosphorylation produced by estradiol and progesterone in the rat dorsolateral prostate were not found in the rat ventral prostate, which was not affected by these hormones in the 28 day length of this study.