Ultrastructural and biochemical studies of guinea pig seminal vesicle during postnatal development and after castration

Abstract

Final structural and biochemical probes were combined in a study of guinea pig seminal vesicle epithelium. Tissues from intact neonatal, juvenile, and adult, and castrated adult animals were examined using transmission electron microscopy. Thin sections revealed a general increase in secretory activity during normal development which steadily declined during the 90 days after castration. The ultrastructure of the epithelium from the long-term castrate differed significantly from that of the prepubertal intact animal. Protein content of the seminal vesicle epithelium and epithelial cell number decreased dramatically after castration. Other findings are presented which also indicate that the seminal vesicle epithelial cell of the juvenile animal is different from that of the long-term castrated adult.