The effect of prostatectomy on the behavior and learning of albino rats

Abstract

The prostate gland of the rat is proportionately to the size of the animal much larger than that of man. It can also be completely extirpated with comparative ease. These facts render rats especially suitable as subjects for the inquiry into the question of the internal secretion of that gland. In the present investigation an attempt was made to throw light on the relationship between prostatectomy and mental efficiency, the existence of which seems to be supported by some clinical evidence.

Two series of experiments were conducted on white rats in the circular maze. In the first series of experiments a number of rats were trained to solve the maze problem by finding the way to the center of the maze, by the shortest route, without any errors, and in the shortest period of time. They were then prostatectomized under ether anesthesia, allowed to recover, and their behavior was studied subsequently. Control experiments were made on other rats of the same series and same ages, which were also anesthetized and on which laparotomy was performed but without removal of the prostate.

In the second series of experiments, young adult male rats were prostatectomized without previous training in the maze, and control laparotomies were also made as before. The animals were allowed to recover and were kept in their cages for periods ranging from 5 to 9 weeks. Then they were trained in the maze and a comparison was made between the learning time of the prostatectomized and control rats.

An analysis of all the data obtained in the two series of experiments revealed that the extirpation of the prostate exerted no influence either on the behavior or the rate of learning of the animals.