Effects of prolactin on testosterone-induced growth and protein synthesis in rat accessory sex glands.

The relative importance of testosterone and prolactin in regulating growth and protein synthesis in rat accessory sex glands has been investigated. Protein synthesis was measured by incubating tissue minces in vitro with [35S]methionine and analysing labelled proteins on polyacrylamide gels containing sodium dodecyl sulphate. Plasma prolactin was assayed by radioimmunoassay. Results showed that castration for 8 days significantly reduced wet weights and total protein synthesis in the ventral prostate, dorsolateral prostate and caput epididymidis, but that these effects could be reversed by exogenous testosterone. Similarly, the specific incorporation of [35S]methionine into four polypeptides in the ventral prostate, two polypeptides in the dorsolateral prostate and two polypeptides in the caput epididymidis was lowered by castration but markedly stimulated by testosterone. Acute or chronic administration of 2-bromo-alpha-ergocryptine to animals in combination with testosterone had no significant effect on any of the parameters measured, although the drug reduced circulating prolactin to undetectable levels. In addition, exogenous prolactin given alone, or in combination with testosterone, to hypophysectomized rats had no effect on general or specific protein synthesis. The induction of hyperprolactinaemia in immature or mature rats with pituitary homographs had no effect on testosterone-stimulated growth of any accessory gland, although it caused a significant stimulation of total protein synthesis in the dorsolateral prostate and coagulating glands. However, this was a generalized effect as it did not increase the specific incorporation of [35S]methionine into androgen-dependent proteins. The results do not indicate a major role for prolactin in regulating androgen responsiveness of male accessory sex glands in the rat.