Prostatic inhibin peptide : occurrence, localization and its hormonal modulation in prostates of primates and rodents

Immunocytochemical localization studies revealed the presence of 10·5 kDa inhibin in the prostatic epithelial cells of the human, non-human primates (Macaca radiata,Presbytis entellus, Callithrix jacchus), dog and laboratory rodents (guinea pigs, hamsters, rats and mice). The capability of the prostate gland to synthesize inhibinin vitro was shown by the incorporation of radiolabeled leucine into inhibin which was immuno-precipitated. Unlike most prostatic proteins, inhibin was found to be androgen-independent since no significant alteration in inhibin concentration in prostate occurred pre/post castration. Physicochemical and immunological characteristics of inhibin as revealed by high performance liquid chromatography and parallel dilution curve in a radioimmunoassay revealed similarities of inhibin in prostates of various species.