Influence of hormones on accessory sex glands in males.

Administration of testosterone, oestrogen, progesterone and prolactin for seven days affected the epididymal lipids markedly whereas seminal vesicular and prostatic lipids were less affected. The increase in total lipids of caput epididymis by testosterone, oestrogen and progesterone was due to an elevation in neutral and phospholipid contents. However, progesterone alone caused an increase in total lipids of the cauda epididymides while oestrogen and prolactin decreased the same. In seminal vesicle and prostate, testosterone elicited a significant rise in total lipids. However, an opposite trend was obvious by the other three hormones. Testosterone alone was effective in elevating the total lipids, phospholipid, cholesterol and glycerides in prostates. Prolactin does not affect the prostatic lipids markedly. The significance of the lipid changes are discussed in relation to various physiological activities of sex accessories.