Secretion of Prostatic Binding Protein by Rat Ventral Prostate: Influence of Age and Androgen*

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Abstract
Rat ventral prostate of adult male rats contain a large amount of prostatic binding protein (PBP). Immunological evidence indicated that this protein is a specific secretion product of this gland. The amount and concentration of PBP in ventral prostate showed marked changes as a function of age. PBP was low but detectable (0.009 and 0.002 U[unit]/mg prostate) in 5 and 10 day old rats and increased thereafter in a biphasic way to adult levels (0.619 U/mg prostate). After castration, the concentration of PBP drops to 0.054 U/mg prostate after 10 days and 0.030 U/mg prostate after 21 days. The concentration of PBP returns to precastration levels after 2 wk of androgen treatment. Estradiol and progesterone were ineffective in this respect. The antiandrogen, cyproterone acetate, counteracted the stimulatory effect of testosterone propionate.