Effect of blinding on the growth of reproductive organs in male rats treated neonatally with testosterone propionate.

Prepubertal blinding slightly retards the growth of seminal vesicles and prostate in male Wistar rats. Neonatal administration of testosterone propionate (TP) increases the susceptibility of rats to light deprivation. The growth of testes, seminal vesicles and prostate is markedly retarded in TP-treated rats blinded at 30 days of age. However, prepubertal blinding does not inhibit the tissue growth completely since even in TP-treated animals steady growth of reproductive organs occurs. Blinding of TP-treated adult rats induces involution of seminal vesicles and prostate although it has no effect on testis weight. The weight of testes can thus be influenced by light deprivation only during its growth in maturing animals, whereas the weights of seminal vesicles and prostate may be affected even in adult animals.