Administration of 5α-androstane-3α,17β-diol to female tammar wallaby pouch young causes development of a mature prostate and male urethra

Abstract

Secretion of 5α-androstane-3α,17β-diol (5α-adiol) by the testes of the tammar wallaby is responsible for initiation of prostatic development after d 20 in male pouch young. To ascertain the role of this hormone in the subsequent growth and differentiation of the prostate and in the development of the male phallus, 5α-adiol was administered to tammar female pouch young in two regimens. Administration of the hormone by mouth (8 μg/g body weight·wk) between d 70 and 150 of pouch life caused prostate development equivalent to that in d 150 males and promoted growth and differentiation of the penis, but not masculinization of the urethra. Treatment with a small dose of 5α-adiol enanthate (1 μg/g ..