SERUM LEVELS OF FOLLICLE-STIMULATING-HORMONE, LUTEINIZING-HORMONE, PROLACTIN, TESTOSTERONE, 5-ALPHA-DIHYDROTESTOSTERONE, 5-ALPHA-ANDROSTANE-3-ALPHA, 17-BETA-DIOL, 5-ALPHA-ANDROSTANE-3-BETA, 17-BETA-DIOL, AND 17-BETA-ESTRADIOL FROM MALE BEAGLES WITH SPONTANEOUS OR INDUCED BENIGN PROSTATIC HYPERPLASIA

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  • 1 January 1981
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 19  (3) , 142-147
Abstract
The serum concentrations of testosterone (T) 5.alpha.-dihydrotestosterone (DHT), 5.alpha.-androstane-3.alpha.,17.beta.-diol (3.alpha.-diol), 5.alpha.-androstane-3.beta.,17.beta.-diol (3.beta.-diol), luteinizing hormone (LH), FSH and prolactin in young (< 40 mo.) beagles with spontaneous benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) were not significantly (P > 0.25) different from serum hormone levels of age matched controls, or old (> 60 mo.) beagles with BPH. The serum concentration of estradiol-17.beta. of young beagles with BPH (2.46 .+-. 0.51 pg/ml) was significantly (P < 0.05) < that of age matched controls (3.93 .+-. 0.35 pg/ml) and of old beagles with BPH (6.35 .+-. 1.25 pg/ml). The initiation of spontaneous BPH apparently is not associated with increased serum concentrations of androgens or changes in serum levels of gonadotropins, but may be related to some change in estrogen biosynthesis or metabolism. In the 2nd part of the experiment, castrate and intact beagles were treated for 4 mo. with 3 weekly injections of T, DHT, 3.alpha.-diol, estradiol, T + estradiol, DHT + estradiol or 3.alpha.-diol + estradiol. As expected, the serum concentration of T, DHT, 3.alpha.-diol, estradiol, LH and FSH varied dramatically depending on the steroid regimen used. Prostate weight was increased by steroid treatments which elevated the serum DHT concentration. Glandular hyperplasia, indistinguishable from that seen in dogs with BPH, occurred only when estradiol was added to those steroid treatments which caused elevated serum DHT concentration.