Androgen Production in Normal Intact and Castrate Immature Female Rats. ∗

Abstract

Summary

Ventral prostates from immature male rats were implanted into female litter mates, both intact and castrated, at 10 days of age. All implants were functionally negative when recovered 10 to 25 days later. Of the 27 female ventral prostates found in intact and castrated immature females, 15 showed some degree of functional activity. The data obtained indicate (a) that in the immature rat the female prostate has a lower threshold of response to androgens than the male prostate, and (b) that there is an extra-ovarian source of androgens in the immature female rat.