Effect of pituitary homograft on accessory sex organs in young male rats.

The effect of prolactin secreted from pituitary homografts under renal capsule of castrated young male rats (30 days old) either alone or in combination with testosterone propionate (TP) on accessory sex organs were studied. Fresh weights of seminal vesicle, prostate coagulating glands and preputial glands were recorded as well as the total protein content and acid phosphatase activity in prostate and seminal vesicle was determined. Prolactin secreted from grafted tissue along or in combination with TP significantly increased the weights of sex accessories but no clear synergism was evident. However, synergism between prolactin and TP was observed in stimulating protein content and acid phosphatase activity of prostate and seminal vesicle. The results indicate that prolactin can act directly and also synergistically with androgen to maintain certain aspects of the functions of accessory sex glands in male rats.