PROMOTION OF GROWTH OF PREPUTIAL GLANDS BY STEROIDS AND THE PITUITARY GROWTH HORMONE¹

Abstract

IN THIS paper it will be demonstrated that the preputial glands of the hypophysectomized rat grow in response to steroids possessing the same molecular features which evoke growth in the prostate. Unlike the prostatic glands of the female rat, the preputial glands are constantly present. These giant sebaceous glands are useful indicators in the biological assay in the female rat of steroids with androgenic activity. There are important synergistic relationships between steroids and pituitary proteins in the promotion of growth so that hypophysectomy is necessary for the precise characterization of growth as induced by steroids. The growth promoting effects of steroids upon preputial glands have not been examined systematically. Korenchevsky, Dennison and Simpson (1935) discovered that both androsterone and androstenediol caused growth of the preputial glands whilst estrone neither induced growth nor blocked the stimulatory effects of androsterone. In addition Korenshevsky (1939) found that growth of the preputial glands of ovariectomized rats occurred after the administration of the following steroids: