Zinc arginine, a 5 alpha-reductase inhibitor, reduces rat ventral prostate weight and DNA without affecting testicular function.

AUTHOR
Fahim MS; Wang M; Sutcu MF; Fahim Z

ORGANIZATION
Center of Reproductive Science and Technology, University of Missouri, Columbia 65212.

SOURCE
Andrologia 1993 Nov-Dec; 25 (6): 369-75

LANGUAGE OF ORIGIN
English

ABSTRACT

Zinc has been implicated in steroid endocrinology of the prostate gland; and 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is believed to express androgenic responses in the prostate. To note the effect of neutralized zinc (zinc gluconate + arginine) on the prostate, 50 sexually mature rats, weighing 325 +/- 20 g, were divided into five groups as follows: (1) control, (2) sham, (3) castrated, and injected intraprostatically with (4) 10 mg neutralized zinc, and (5) 20 mg neutralized zinc. Results indicated significant reduction (P < 0.05) of prostate weight, 5 alpha-reductase activity, and total protein and DNA concentrations in treated prostate tissue; no significant change in weight and histological structure of testes, epididymides, and seminal vesicles; and no significant effect on progeny and blood testosterone level of treated animals. These results suggest that direct application of neutralized zinc to the prostate offers a new modality for treatment of prostatitis without affecting spermatogenesis. (AUTHOR)

MJTR: DNA ME. Prostate AH. Testis PH. Testosterone 5-alpha-Reductase AI. Zinc PD.

MNTR: Animal. Epididymis DE. Female. Male. Organ Weight DE. Pregnancy. Prostate DE. Prostate ME. Proteins ME. Rats. Rats, Sprague-Dawley. Seminal Vesicles DE. Testis DE. Testosterone BL. JOURNAL ARTICLE

RNUM: EC 1.3.99.5 (Testosterone 5-alpha-Reductase); 0 (Proteins); 57-85-2 (Testosterone); 7440-66-6 (Zinc); 9007-49-2 (DNA)

GEOT: GERMANY

IDEN: ISSN: 0303-4569. JOURNAL-CODE: 4QP. ENTRY-DATE: 940210. JOURNAL-SUBSET: M. IM-DATE: 9404.

ACCE: 94106822