CORNIFICATION OF BALANO-PREPUTIAL EPITHELIUM IN NORMAL RATS AND IN CASTRATED RATS TREATED WITH TESTOSTERONE PROPIONATE1

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Abstract
Histologic studies were made of the penes of 24 normal, Long-Evans rats sacrificed in groups of 3 at weekly intervals from day 1 to day 52. The epithelium, from which arises the preputial lining and the glans covering, cornified by the 31st day or earlier. In the 45 day animals cornification was well advanced and cleavage to form two epithelial surfaces had already begun. This separation was completed in the 52 day animals. In a group of 29 Long-Evans rats examined daily to determine when the prepuce separated from the glans penis, the majority (16) showed retractable prepuces by day 47 and the remaining by day 55. Daily subcut. doses of 0.2, 0.4 and 0.6 mg. of testosterone propionate in sesame oil given to rats castrated at day 26 and injected immediately thereafter, caused preputial separation in one wk. The number of daily doses of 12, 25, 50 and 100 [gamma] of the hormone required to accomplish this separation varied indirectly as the dose. The 12 [gamma] dose had to be given for 3 wks., the time of cleavage in these rats corresponding to that in the normal intact controls.

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