Effect of Testicular Hormone on Hypophysectomized Rats

The purpose of these experiments was to analyze further the factors necessary for the maintenance of the prostate. It is well known that prostatic atrophy follows either hypophysectomy or castration. The atrophy which follows castration can be prevented by the use of testicular hormone. Moore and Price1 believe that the prostatic atrophy which follows hypophysectomy is entirely secondary to the changes which occur in the testes. Moore has quoted unpublished experiments by Vatna that testicular extracts maintain the prostate in hypophysectomized rats. Moore believes that secretions produced by the hypophysis stimulate the functions of the gonads, that is, both germ cell production, and hormone secretion, and that the prehypophyseal hormone has no direct action on the prostate. It is not impossible, however, that under normal physiologic conditions, the prostate is supported directly by both the hypophyseal and testicular hormones. Some experimental evidence supports this latter theory.2We have injected hyp...