Effects of cimetidine, progesterone, cannitracin and tolazoline on the weight and DNA content of the testosterone-induced hyperplastic prostate of the rat.

The antiandrogenic potency of cimetidine, progesterone, cannitracin and tolazoline was studied in intact immature rats by determination of the weight and DNA content of the ventral prostate. Cimetidine is a H-2-receptor histamine antagonist, cannitracin is an antifungal antibiotic derived from Strp-griseus and tolazoline is an alpha-adrenergic blocker similar to phentolamine. All rats (except the control group) received testosterone propionate (TP) 0.3 mg s.c. with the drugs above every day for one week. Cimetidine, progesterone and cannitracin, but not tolazoline, significantly decreased the weight and DNA content of the hyperplastic prostate induced by TP. The results indicate that cimetidine, progesterone and cannitracin have an antiandrogenic effect. This study provides the basis for investigating the effects of antiandrogen in men with symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia.