Partial inhibition of castration-induced involution in rat prostate by chloroquine. A preliminary observation

W. C. Sharer, C. Lee, J. T. Grayhack

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

The effect of chloroquine phosphate, a membrane stabilizing agent, on castration-induced involution in the prostate was investigated in adult Sprague-Dawley rats. Chloroquine phosphate (75 mg per kg of body weight) was administered daily by gastric tube on 4 consecutive days beginning 1 day before castration. Control rats received water. All animals were sacrificed 7 days after castration and the ventral prostates were analyzed. The chloroquine group had a mean prostatic weight 17% greater than that of the water-fed control group (P < 0.01) despite a modest loss in body weight. The activity of cathepsin D, a lysosomal enzyme, in the prostate of treated rats was double that measured in control rats. Histologically, prostates from chloroquine treated rats contained more lysosomal particles that were larger than those from control rats. Serum testosterone reached castrate levels in both groups of animals within 24 hr of castration. These results indicate that it is possible to reduce the rate of prostatic regression by chloroquine, although at a small magnitude, probably through the action of membrane stabilization.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)135-137
Number of pages3
JournalInvestigative Urology
Volume17
Issue number2
StatePublished - 1979

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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