Testosterone regulates prostaglandin production by the rat vas deferens

Abstract

Prostaglandins are present in the epididymal and prostatic portions of the isolated intact and gonadectomized rat vas deferens. The concentration of PGF-like material is higher in the castrated than in the intact male rat in both portions of the vasa deferentia. The higher amount of PGF-like material observed in the castrated rat vas deferens was significantly reduced after testosterone replacement therapy, indicating that androgens could be controlling PGF production. On the other hand, the concentration of PGE-like material was significantly higher than PGF in both portions of the vas deferens and no differences were observed in those values when comparing data from intact, castrated and testosterone-treated rats. PGF-like material is likely to be androgen dependent, whereas PGE-like material is not under that hormonal control.