Changes in the testicular acid and alkaline phosphatase activities at different durations following prostatectomy: a...

The purpose of this investigation was to make a correlative study between spermatogenesis and testicular acid and alkaline phosphatase activities in mature prostatectomized animals at different post-operative periods. The results demonstrate that there was a significant augmentation in the activity of testicular acid and alkaline phosphatases subsequent to 14 and 21 days of prostatectomy. A parallel quantitative study of spermatogenesis at stage VII of the seminiferous cycle, namely, type A spermatogonia (ASg), preleptotene spermatocytes (pLSc), mid-pachytene spermatocytes (mPSc) and step 7 spermatids (7sd), revealed that there was a significant reduction in the number of step 7 spermatids after 14 and 21 days. No change was observed in the above testicular enzymes and spermatogenesis after 7 days of prostatectomy. Therefore, it is concluded that prostatectomy can alter the above testicular enzyme activities and spermatogenesis in chronic prostatectomized state.