Effect of prolactin and androgens on the prostate of bonnet monkeys, Macaca radiata: I. Nucleic acids, phosphatases, and citric acid.

The effects of prolactin (PRL), bromocriptine (Br), testosterone propionate (TP), dihydrotestosterone (DHT), and the combinations of these androgens with PRL/Br on the growth and secretory activities of cranial and caudal prostates were studied in castrated mature monkeys, Macaca radiata. Castration decreased the body weight, organ weights, nucleic acids (DNA and RNA), phosphatases, and citric acid of cranial and caudal prostates. PRL did not alter the body weight but increased the organ weights, nucleic acids, phosphatase activities, and citric acid. Br given alone decreased the body weight and the secretory activities of prostates but caused no significant alteration in the nucleic acids. TP/DHT replacement brought back the body weight and prostatic nucleic acids to normal. It enhanced the weights, phosphatase activities, and citric acid contents of cranial and caudal prostates. PRL + TP/DHT enhanced the body weight, organ weight, and secretory activities. Br + TP/DHT decreased the body weight and secretory products of prostate but it did not produce any alteration in the organ weight and RNA content. These results suggest that PRL plays a specific stimulatory influence on monkey prostate.