INTERACTION BETWEEN PROLACTIN AND ANDROGENS IN THE ACCESSORY SEX ORGANS OF MALE MICE

Treatment of adult male mice with varying doses of prolactin increased the weights of the seminal vesicles and the anterior prostate gland. Only in the seminal vesicles were these increases in organ weights associated with increased levels of DNA. In castrated mice, prolactin alone failed to alter the weights of the accessory sex organs or DNA content. However, the simultaneous administration of prolactin and testosterone resulted in enhanced androgenic stimulation of seminal vesicle weights and their DNA content. Prostatic weights, but not DNA content, were augmented by treatment with prolactin and testosterone. Although the kidneys exhibited androgen sensitivity, prolactin failed to enhance the effect of testosterone upon the kidney. Augmentation of androgen action in the accessory sex organs was observed only after treatment with prolactin or growth hormone. Prolactin also enhanced the effects of dihydrotestosterone and 5α-androstane-3α, 17β-diol, but not of 5α-androstane-3β,17β-diol. These studies revealed that prolactin enhances the proliferative actions of androgens in mouse seminal vesicles, but not in the anterior prostate glands or the kidneys.