Adult Phosphatase Levels in Prepubertal Rhesus Prostate Tissue after Testosterone Propionate

As in man, the prostate gland of the mature Rhesus monkey contains high concentrations of an “acid” phosphatase, whereas the prepubertal monkey prostate is virtually devoid of this enzyme. It is shown that testosterone propionate causes a several hundred-fold increase in “acid” phosphatase activity of the prepubertal monkey prostate gland to adult levels. It is inferred that in prepubertal man, so treated, an analogous increase occurs. In the monkey, “acid” prostate phosphatase is elaborated chiefly or solely in the caudal lobe.