Effects of prostaglandins on histophysiology of male reproductive organs and fertility in rats.

The effects of subcutaneous injections of prostaglandins F2 alpha and E1 (PGF2 alpha and E1) on the histophysiology of male reproductive organs of mature albino rats and their fertility rate were studied. Although most of the androgensensitive biochemical parameters were reduced by PG treatment, the level of cholesterol and activities of 3 beta and 17 beta hydroxy steroid dehydrogenases were not significantly altered in the testis. These results indicate a probable decline in target organ response to androgen and/or in conversion of testosterone to its metabolites. The reduction in fertility rate of prostaglandin-treated male rats has been correlated with the altered morphology of the epididymal spermatozoa as well as with their reduced density and motility. The weights of testis and epididymis were significantly reduced but those of seminal vesicle (SV) and ventral prostate (VP) were increased by PG treatment. The height of the germinal/secretory epithelium, the tubular diameter of testis, and the epididymis were decreased, but Leydig cell diameter was not affected. The reduced fructose in SV and the corresponding increase in its weight suggest that there is hypertrophy but no hyperplasia. On the other hand, in VP there probably occur both hypertrophy and hyperplasia. It is evident from the results that PGF2 alpha and E1 exert a definite growth promoting effect particularly in SV and VP together with the antiandrogenic and partial antifertility effects.