Involvement of prostate in the regulation of serum levels of FSH, LH, and prolactin in male rats

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Abstract
Circulatory levels of LH and FSH were measured in serum of male rats (28, 35, 42, 63, 70, 77, and 207 days of age) 7 days following sham operation, castration (C), prostatectomy (P), and castration + prostatectomy (C + P). In C + P rats that were 49, 63, 70, 77, and 207 days of age, the plasma FSH was significantly elevated as compared to the C group. Administration of aqueous prostatic extract restored the circulatory FSH level in C + P animals to that observed in C animals, whereas in C animals FSH levels were suppressed, indicating inhibinlike activity. In rats 49 and 77 days of age, circulatory LH levels were significantly suppressed in C + P animals as compared to the C group. Both castration and prostatectomy alone suppressed circulatory prolactin levels. Administration of prostatic extract to castrated animals restored the prolactin levels to that of the sham-operated control animals. Results of the present study suggest a role of the prostate in feedback regulation of FSH and prolactin.