Involvement of lysosomal enzymes in flutamide-induced stimulation of rat testis.

Flutamide, an antiandrogen, increases the levels of plasma luteinizing hormone (LH), stimulates steroidogenesis in the testis and antagonizes the biological expression of androgen on target organs. flutamide was administered to rats to study intracellular mechanism in the testis where steroidogenesis was stimulated in the presence of an antiandrogen. The weights of ventral prostate and seminal vesicles showed antiandrogenic effects of flutamide. However, the availability of testosterone was reflected by the increased activity of kidney beta glucuronidase. The weight of testis and the incorporation of 32P in its nucleic acid fraction at 45 minutes were increased. The concentrations of testicular DNA and ascorbic acid were decreased. Activity of the lysosomal enzymes, acid phosphatase and beta glucuronidase, increased in the free state. Thus flutamide provided a condition where changes in the lysosomal stability in association with the alteration of testicular function was demonstrated.