Aim: To study the effects of adrenalectomy and hydrocortisone on the ventral prostate of SD rats. Methods: In adrenalectomised (ADX) and ADX + hydrocortisone (1, 2, or 4 mg) treated rats, the prostatic histology and the cholesterol, protein, zinc, and copper levels and the enzymic profile (acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, aryl sulphatase, lactic dehydrogenase, and leucine aminopeptidase) in the prostatic tissue were determined; the serum hormonal profile (testosterone, FSH and LH) was also assayed. Results: Adrenalectomy caused a progressive degeneration in prostatic structure that was not reversed by hydrocortisone treatment. The serum testosterone were significantly lower in ADX than in sham operated rats and lower in ADX + hydrocortisone than in ADX-C rats ( P ＜ 0.01) The serum FSH and LH were below the detection limit of 1 mIU/mL. The enzymatic activity was higher in ADX than in sham operated rats and higher in ADX + hydrocortisone than in ADX-C rats ( P ＜0.05-0.01). The prostatic zinc levels were significantly higher in sham operated than in ADX, and higher in ADX-C than in ADX + hydrocortisone rats ( P ＜ 0.05 -0.01). The prostatic copper level was significantly lower in sham operated than in ADX, and lower in ADX-C than in the ADX + hydrocortisone rats ( P ＜ 0.01). Conclusion: In rats, adrenalectomy leads to pathological and functional changes of the prostate. Hydrocortisone treatment at the doses employed did not reverse these changes.

AIMTo investigate the effect of adrenalectomy (ADX) on the epididymidis of Sprague-Dawley rats.

METHODSThe histological, biochemical (cholesterol protein, zinc, copper, alkaline and acid phosphatase aryl sulphatase, lactic dehydrogenase and leucine amino peptidase) and hormonal (FSH, LH and testosterone) changes of caput and cauda epididymis in ADX rats were observed.

RESULTSOrgan wet weight, histological studies and morphometric measurements indicated a cellular degeneration in caput and cauda epididymis of ADX rats. Serum testosterone level was significantly lower in ADX than in sham-operated rats, while the serum FSH and LH were below the detection limit of 1 mIU/mL. The enzymatic activity was higher in ADX than in sham-operated rats. Epididymal zinc level increased whereas copper level decreased in ADX rats compared to the sham-operated.

CONCLUSIONAdrenalectomy leads to degeneration of caput and cauda epididymidis epithelial cells as a result of decreased supply of testosterone.

Acid Phosphatase ; metabolism ; Adrenalectomy ; Alkaline Phosphatase ; metabolism ; Animals ; Arylsulfatases ; metabolism ; Cholesterol ; metabolism ; Copper ; metabolism ; Epididymis ; anatomy & histology ; metabolism ; physiology ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; blood ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; metabolism ; Leucyl Aminopeptidase ; metabolism ; Luteinizing Hormone ; blood ; Male ; Organ Size ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reference Values ; Testosterone ; blood ; Time Factors ; Zinc ; metabolism