Effects of prolactin and androgens on the prostatic lipids of castrated mature bonnet monkeys.

The effects of prolactin (PRL), bromocriptine (Br), testosterone propionate (TP), dihydrotestosterone (DHT), and the combinations of these androgens with PRL/Br on total lipid, total cholesterol, total glyceride glycerols, and total phospholipid and their fractions in cranial and caudal prostates of castrated mature monkeys were studied. Glyceride glycerols formed the major portion of total lipids (50%) in normal monkeys. Cholesterol and phospholipids were of equal share (25%). Esterified cholesterol formed the major share (75%) of total cholesterol. Diacyl glycerol was the major (60%) glyceride glycerol and phosphatidyl choline and ethanolamine were the major phospholipid classes. Except triacyl glycerol castration markedly decreased all the lipid classes in both the lobes. PRL restored normal free and esterified cholesterol and phosphatidyl inositol but Br invariably decreased all the lipid classes. TP/DHT treatment stimulated the free and esterified cholesterol more than the control; it restored the normal glyceride glycerols in both the lobes. Phosphatidyl inositol, choline, and ethanolamine were stimulated by androgens and other phospholipid classes were brought to normal in both the lobes. Addition of PRL + TP/DHT markedly increased esterified cholesterol, phosphatidyl inositol, choline, ethanolamine, and phosphatidic acid in both the lobes. Br counteracted the effects of androgens and prolactin. In general, the influence of prolactin was more in the caudal lobe than cranial. The results are discussed in detail with available literature.