Stimulation of nucleic acid and protein synthesis in the epididymis and accessory organs of the rat by testosterone

Abstract

The effects of a single dose of testosterone on the content of DNA, RNA and protein and the incorporation of [³H]phenylalanine into protein in the epididymis, vas deferens and ventral prostate of the rat were studied. A single dose of testosterone did not increase the weights of the accessory organs but restored the incorporation of [³H]phenylalanine into proteins in the caput, corpus and cauda epididymides, vas deferens and ventral prostate to the normal level. Within 1 h of hormone administration, significant increases in the content of DNA, RNA and protein were noticed in the cauda epididymidis and ventral prostate. The caput and corpus epididymides and vas deferens showed decreasing order of responsiveness to testosterone. These data are discussed with respect to the relative responsiveness of these organs to reinitiation of their function by administration of a single dose of testosterone. The new protein(s) synthesized in response to hormonal stimulation associated with growth and secretory activity of the cells may be different from the new protein macromolecules synthesized after hormone withdrawal or inhibition of hormone action which are involved in autolytic processes.