Abstract
Loss of endogenous male sex hormone results in characteristic regressive changes. These changes lead to the cessation of growth and subsequent atrophy of the secondary sex structures. Injection of testicular extracts or testosterone leads to the restoration of morphologic and cytologic characteristics in these structures. Early investigators (Moore and Gallagher, 1930; Korenchevsky, 1932a,b,c,; Hays and Mathieson, 1945; Mathieson and Hays, 19^5) have clearly demonstrated the dependence of sex accessory tissue on male sex hormone. The descriptive works of Moore and others have demonstrated that both the growth and the histologic integrity of sex accessory organs are controlled by androgens. | More recently, considerable effort has been devoted to the study of the biochemical alterations in sex accessory organs following the loss of male sex hormone. Profound changes in the metabolic integrity of these target organs takes place after castration. Many protein, carbohydrate, and lipid constituents are lost or sharply reduced following the removal of the gonads. The secretory activity of the sex accessory organs is sharply reduced as a result of the loss of androgenic stimulation. For example, the ability of these structures to synthesize and secrete fructose and/or citric acid has been shown to be under gonadal control (Mann, et al, 1949$ Levey and Szego, 1955). Mann and his co-workers have repeatedly demonstrated the dependence of sex accessory organs of several species on testosterone (Mann, 1964).