Immunolocalization of glutathione-peroxidase (GSH-PO) in the rat ventral prostate was studied in the presence and absence of androgen. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were diveded into four experimental groups. Group 1 consisted of intact controls. In group 2, rats were sacrificed two days after castration. In groups 3 and 4, rats were injected subcutaneously with 1mg of testosterone-propionate daily, for three or seven days, beginning two days after castration. The intensity of GSH-PO staining in the glandular epithelial cells of the ventral prostate decreased after castration, but recovered following treatment with testosterone. Furthermore, the prostatic GSH-PO mRNA levels were diminished in the castrated rat ventral prostate but greatly increased by testosterone. These findings strongly suggest that the expression of GSH-PO in the glandular epithelial cells of the rat ventral prostate is dependent on testosterone.
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