EFFECTS OF MEGESTROL ON OESTRADIOL INDUCED GROWTH OF THE PROSTATIC LOBES AND THE SEMINAL VESICLES IN CASTRATED RATS

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Abstract
The growth of the ventral and dorsolateral prostate, the coagulating glands and the seminal vesicles was studied morphologically in castrated rats following 21 daily injections of estradiol benzoate or megestrol acetate alone or in combination. Estradiol was given in daily doses of 0.01 mg, megestrol in daily doses of 0.02 or 2.0 mg. In the ventral and dorsolateral prostate estradiol had an androgen-like action inducing epithelial growth and secretory activity in the epithelium. In the seminal vesicles estradiol induced an increased fibromuscular growth. Megestrol in the higher dose had a slight stimulating effect on the growth of the epithelium of the dorsal part of the dorsolateral prostate, the coagulating glands and the seminal vesicles. The high dose of megestrol given alone or in combination with estradiol reduced the adrenal weight to about a third of that of the controls. The lower dose of megestrol, which had no demonstrated effect of its own, acted synergistically with estradiol in stimulating epithelial growth in the ventral and dorsolateral prostate. The adrenal depressant dose of megestrol counteracted the effect of estradiol on these glands. In the coagulating glands and seminal vesicles the high dose of megestrol counteracted the increased fibromuscular growth seen after estradiol alone and caused a pronounced epithelial proliferation. The influence of megestrol on estradiol-induced prostatic and seminal vesicle growth is in accordance with its weak androgenic properties modified by its adrenal depressant activity when given in high doses.

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