CELLULAR BEHAVIOUR OF THE VAGINAL EPITHELIUM TREATED WITH TESTOSTERONE PROPIONATE ALONE AND IN COMBINATION WITH DIETHYLSTILBOESTROL

Abstract

SUMMARY The kinetics of the vaginal epithelium and changes in vaginal epithelial thickness of ovariectomized female rats under the influence of various doses of testosterone propionate alone and in combination with 0·1 μg. diethylstilboestrol were studied. Testosterone propionate alone in the range of doses used had no effect on cell proliferation, yet the thickness of the vaginal epithelium increased due to mucification resulting in increased cell size. Testosterone propionate in the presence of 0·1 μg. diethylstilboestrol completely antagonized the proliferative effect of the oestrogen. However, the changes of the vaginal epithelial thickness in response to the oestrogen—androgen combination showed no evidence of antagonism, the effects being additive with a synergistic response within the narrow dose response range of 50 to 100 μg. testosterone propionate in the presence of 0·1 μg. diethylstilboestrol. The thickness determinations showed that oestrogen was not inhibited by testosterone, but sustained its action by a mucification effect.