Vitamin E and methylene blue in the prevention of abnormal pigmentation in the seminal vesicles of the castrated golden hamster.

The present work reports studies carried out in order to prove if prevention of the abnormal, yellow-brown pigment that is present in the seminal vesicles of the castrated hamster was possible by means of vitamin E (from 20 to 500 mg. per cent), methylene blue (126 mg. per cent), selenium dioxide (from 20 to 200 mcg per cent) and Licidril (dimethyl-aminoethyl-p-chlorophenox and acetate 1 per cent) given in the basic diet. Prepuberal hamsters (strain Ch CM) were used; they were fed during 120 experimental days Purina Laboratory Chow as a basic diet and were castrated at the beginning of the experiment. Results allow us to conclude that 100 to 500 mg per cent of vitamin E levels and methylene blue at the administrated level prevent the macroscopic evidence of this pigment whereas selenium dioxide and Licidril do not prevent the formation of this pigment at levels administrated. Further, in this work we discuss different aspects and implications of study results that establish the existence of important interrelations between physiology and pathology of the male hamster reproductive system and metabolism of vitamin E and methylene blue that is another not biological antioxidant.