Alterations in the fine structure of the prostate and seminal vesicle of rats treated with cyproterone acetate

Young adult male rats were treated with daily injections of 10 mg of cyproterone acetate for periods up to 16 weeks. Samples of the ventral prostate and the seminal vesicle were studied with the light and electron microscopes. Alterations visible with the light microscope included decreases in cell size, cytoplasmic basophilia, the size of the nucleolus, and the amount of luminal secretory material. Ultrastructural changes in the epithelium of both glands involved mainly the organelles that participate in the formation of secretions. Large declines were observed in the abundance of rough endoplasmic reticulum, size of the Golgi apparatus, and number of secretory vacuoles. Lipid droplets accumulated in the seminal vesicle epithelium, and lysosomes were numerous in both glands. Changes were first observed microscopically in the seminal vesicle after one week and in the prostate after two or three weeks. Maximal development of the alteration occurred after treatment for approximately eight weeks.