Zinc in the seminal vesicle and cranial and caudal prostate of rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta): testicular regulation and subcellular distribution.

Zinc concentration and its subcellular distribution in the seminal vesicle and cranial and caudal prostate of adult rhesus monkey was determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy. Its concentration (microgram/mg protein) was maximum in the caudal lobe of prostate (5.7 micrograms) followed by cranial prostate (2.8 micrograms) and seminal vesicle (1.26 microgram). Analysis of subcellular fractions revealed that zinc concentration was highest in the microsomal fraction constituting about 50% of total zinc in the two lobes of prostate (cranial: 5 micrograms; caudal: 17 micrograms/mg protein). A significant reduction occurred in their zinc content following castration. The possible role of zinc in the accessory sex glands is discussed.