| Abstract: | Prolactin stimulated the citric acid content of the lateral lobe of the prostate of androgenized-hypophysectomized rats in a time-dependent manner. This stimulation of citric acid levels was not blocked by pretreatment of the animals with the ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) inhibitor, alpha-difluoromethyl ornithine (DFMO), suggesting that the prolactin induction of citric acid in this organ is not mediated through activation of the ODC. The efficacy of the dose of inhibitor used was monitored by analysis of the diamine product of ODC, putrescine. Further evidence of an independent control of citric acid and polyamine synthesis in the lateral lobe was provided by their differing age distributions in intact animals. ODC activity decreased sharply with age, whereas the tissue concentrations of citric acid remained relatively constant. Both studies suggest that although citric acid and ODC are modulated by prolactin, their synthesis or activation are controlled independently of each other. |
