Aim: To study the effects of adrenalectomy and hydrocortisone on the ventral prostate of SD rats. Methods: In adrenalectomised (ADX) and ADX+hydrocortisone (1, 2, or 4 mg) treated rats, the prostatic histology and the cholesterol, protein, zinc, and copper levels and the enzymic profile (acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, aryl sulphatase, lactic dehydrogenase, and leucine aminopeptidase) in the prostatic tissue were determined; the serum hormonal profile (testosterone, FSH and LH) was also assayed. Results: Adrenalectomy caused a progressive degeneration in prostatic structure that was not reversed by hydrocortisone treatment. The serum testosterone were significantly lower in ADX than in sham operated rats and lower in ADX+hydrocortisone than in ADX-C rats (P<0.01). The serum FSH and LH were below the detection limit of 1 mIU/mL. The enzymatic activity was higher in ADX than in sham operated rats and higher in ADX+hydrocortisone than in ADX-C rats (P<0.05-0.01). The prostatic zinc levels were significantly higher in sham operated and higher in ADX-C than in ADX+hydrocortisone rats (P<0.05-0.01). Prostatic copper level was significantly lower in sham operated and lower in ADX-C than in the ADX+hydrocortisone rats (P<0.01). Conclusion: In rats, adrenalectomy leads to pathological and functional changes of the prostate. Hydrocortisone treatment at the doses employed did not reverse these changes.
    
    

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