Androgen metabolism within the lobes of rhesus monkey prostate.

Testosterone metabolism was investigated in the caudal and cranial lobe of the rhesus monkey prostate. Analysis of the radiometabolites revealed that dihydrotestosterone and androstanediols are the main metabolites in the two lobes of the monkey prostate, suggesting that in this gland the main metabolic pathway is via the 5 alpha-reductive route. In contrast, the metabolic pathway for liver was found to be an oxidative one. The major metabolite in liver being androstenedione. There were no significant differences between the recovered radiometabolites in the two lobes of the prostate. The significance of the metabolic studies together with the differential uptake and receptor content of the two lobes of the monkey prostate have been discussed in relation to the zonal anatomy of the human prostate.