Abstract
Histochemical changes in hamster epididymides and seminal vesicles were studied in non‐treated controls; non‐treated castrates allowed to live for 2, 5, 10 and 20 days after gonadectomy; castrates injected daily with graded doses of testosterone propionate for 20 days (0, 50, 100, 150, 300 and 400 μg); and castrates receiving 150 μg testosterone propionate for 2, 5, 10 and 20 days. Histochemical procedures included the periodic acid‐Schiff method, toluidine blue, Sudan black B and oil red O techniques and a phospholipid procedure. In addition, statistical methods were used to evaluate seminal vesicle response.
The histochemistry of the hamster epididymis and seminal vesicle is similar to that described for the rat, mouse and rabbit. The rapid regression of the epididymal epithelium is also comparable to that reported in the rat. In contrast, the major alteration in the seminal vesicle following castration is associated with loss of secretion and not epithelial involution. Increased cellular pigmentation in the gonadectomized hamster seminal vesicle rather than cellular atrophy may be a more accurate index of the level of circulating androgen.