Early effects of testosterone propionate on the seminal vesicles of castrate rats

Ten hours after the injection of testosterone propionate into castrate rates the QO2 of the seminal vesicles as well as the weight, intracellular water, and fructose content was increased. The concept that the regulation of oxidative metabolism was probably the primary effect of testosterone is discussed. The QO2 of the glands at twenty hours and the QO2 or normal mature glands were the same as the QO2 at ten hours. The continued growth of the seminal vesicles and the further increase of the intracellular volume were probably secondary effects of the hormone since the increased oxygen uptake could furnish the energy necessary for synthesis and the alteration of fluid distribution. Since the anaerobic metabolic metabolism of the seminal vesicles was unchanged after the injection of testosterone propionate the increased fructose content could not bring about the increase QO2 unless fructose were metabolized by a pathway not involving pyruvate. Succinate as substrate increased the QO2 while the addition of glucose or sodium pyruvate had not effect. Oxidative metabolism may be different in this tissue since fumarate did not relieve the inhibitory effect of malonate. Testosterone added to the seminal vesicles of the castrate rats in vitro had no measurable effect on the QO2. These changes that occurred in the seminal vesicles were compared with the effects of estradiol on the uterus.