MORPHOMETRIC AND STEREOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF THE EFFECTS OF 17-BETA-ESTRADIOL ON THE GLANDULAR EPITHELIUM OF THE CASTRATED GUINEA-PIG LATERAL PROSTATE

Upon administration of pharmacological doses of estradiol to castrated guinea pigs, the secretory cells of the lateral prostate underwent hypertrophy which resulted from significant increases in nuclear and cytoplasmic volume. There were quantitative increases in the small highly electron-dense granules and multivesicular bodies when compared with the castrated control. The dramatic increase in the number of highly electron-dense granules probably occurred at the expense of the low electron-dense granules. The average size of the condensing granules and mitochondria decreased significantly after estradiol administration. However, significant increase in the number of mitochondria was detected when compared with the castrated control. Ultrastructural data revealed no significant changes in the absolute dimensions of granular endoplasmic reticulum or of the Golgi complex, suggesting that estradiol exerted no significant stimulatory effects on these organelles. Pharmacological doses of estrogen appear to regulate the expression of secretory granules and multivesicular bodies in the lateral prostate of castrated guinea pigs.