Testosterone, Dihydrotestosterone, and Zinc Concentrations in Human Testis and Epididymis

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Abstract
Tissue testosterone, dihydrotestosterone and Zn concentrations were determined in testis and epididymis of 13 patients with carcinoma of the prostate, 1 patient with carcinoma of the penis and 3 patients with carcinoma of the prostate on estrogens. The 13 patients not receiving estrogens had the following testicular levels: testosterone, of 529 .+-. 63.1 ng/g (mean .+-. SE); dihydrotestosterone, 23.7 .+-. 2.58 ng/g; and Zn 62.2 .+-. 7.6 .mu.g/g. The epididymal levels were as follows: testosterone, 40.6 .+-. 3.4 ng/g; dihydrotestosterone, 20.5 .+-. 2.36 ng/g; and Zn 67.2 .+-. 11.1 .mu.g/g. Patients on estrogen therapy showed much lower androgen values in the 2 organs but Zn was not changed significantly. Concentrations of androgens were not significantly different in the epididymal fractions of caput, corpus and cauda. In testis, there was a positive correlation between Zn and androgen contents, while the opposite was suggested by the data in the epididymis. Even though these patients were not normal, there was no evidence of testicular or epididymal disturbances.