Interrelationships between androgens and prostaglandins in the vas deferens of prepubertal rats.

Prostaglandin (PG) levels in the genital tract of male rats were measured at different ages. The vas deferens contained the highest amounts of both PGE2 and PGF2 alpha in young adult or prepubertal animals. PGE2 content increased considerably with age. PGE2 alpha was high in younger animals but decreased markedly at 35 days of age and remained low thereafter. PGE2 and PGF2 alpha were reduced following bilateral castration or hypophysectomy. Testosterone propionate (TP) prevented the postoperative fall in PG levels in a dose-dependent manner. Differences were noted in the relationship between changes in organ weight or PGE2 and pge2 alpha content, and the dose of TP injected, the operation, the time of treatment, and the PG studied.