Some Effects of Breeding Season and Castration on the Prostate and Epididymis of the Brushtail Possum, Trichosurus vulpecula

Abstract

In an attempt to understand the mechanism(s) responsible for the reported marked seasonal increase in prostatic, but not epididymal, weight in T. vulpecula, a number of parameters were measured in tissues from mature, entire males sampled within and outside of the breeding season and from castrates. Conditions for the measurement of cytosol androgen receptors were also established. The weight of both the prostate and the epididymis was significantly elevated in the breeding season but the relative increase in prostate weight was considerably greater. The increase in prostatic weight was associated with a decrease in DNA: g tissue and an increase in protein: DNA and RNA: DNA ratios, each indicative of cellular hypertrophy and/or accumulation of secretory product. In the epididymis there were no significant seasonal changes in RNA: DNA, protein: DNA or DNA: g tissue ratios. Low-capacity, high-affinity binding was demonstrated in the epididymal and prostatic cytosols and values for the equilibrium association constants and receptor concentrations were within the range reported for androgen receptors in eutherian species. The temperature sensitivity of the binding, steroid specificity and slow dissociation in the cold indicated that in both tissues cystosol receptor and not androgen-binding or serum-binding protein(s) were being measured. In prostatic, but not epididymal, cytosol a low level of progesterone binding was observed and was masked by triamcinolone acetonide. When expressed in terms of tissue DNA, cytosol androgen receptor level in the prostate only was elevated in the breeding season. Prostatic tissue showed a low level of 5a-reductase in vitro which was not influenced by season. However, both tissues showed a high concentration of 5a-dihydrotestosterone and in the prostate, where seasonal effects were measured, the concentration was higher in the breeding season. This indicates that although 5a-dihydrotestosterone is the likely active androgen in the prostate it may be formed elsewhere. Part of the explanation for the increased growth of the prostate in the breeding season appears to be a change in receptor concentration coupled with elevated tissue androgen level.