Prostate gland and epididymis phosphatase isoenzymes: comparisons of young adult and aged rats.

Relative activities of acid and alkaline phosphatases in rat reproductive tissue were studied in young adult (10-12 months) and aged (30-34 months) rats. Prostatic alkaline phosphatase alone increased in aged animals. Moreover, prostate preparations contain two isoenzymes of alkaline phosphatase whereas only one was found in epididymal tissues. Age-associated changes in the prostatic alkaline phosphatase isoenzyme ratios were observed. No significant age-related changes in acid phosphatase tartrate sensitivity were found. Techniques for the preparation of prostate and epididymis tissue extracts are reported.