Metabolic activity in tissue transplants. Hormone-induced formation of fructose and citric acid in transplants from accessory glands of reproduction

Abstract

A combined chemical and cytological study of the behaviour of transplants from certain accessory glands of reproduction in the rat was carried out. It was found that subcutaneous transplants of coagulating gland and seminal vesicle were capable of producing considerable amounts of fructose and citric acid in total anatomical separation from the male reproductive system. In transplants containing coagulating gland and seminal vesicle tissue both fructose and citric acid were formed. In those from coagulating gland alone only fructose was produced, but citric acid was absent. In this respect the metabolic behaviour of the grafts was identical with that of the intact organs. Following castration, coagulating gland transplants lost their ability to form fructose. This was fully restored by treatment with testosterone propionate. Upon cessation of the hormone treatment the process of fructose formation in the transplants was again brought to a standstill. Grafts of coagulating gland could be successfully grown in female rats and brought to a state of fructose secretion by subjecting the female hosts to injections of male sex hormone. The post-castrate retrogressive changes as well as the hormone-induced recovery symptoms were studied in the transplants parallel with similar changes in the intact glands in situ . The chemical findings were corroborated by the histological examination.