Prostaglandin dehydrogenase activity of rat and rabbit testicular tissues and accessory glands before and after...

Rat reproductive tissues contained both 15-hydroxy-prostaglandin dehydrogenase (PGDH) and delta 13-reductase activities, while rabbit tissues exhibited only PGDH activity. In the rat, delta 13-reductase activity was absent in those tissues that had a high specific activity of PGDH and was present in those tissues with a low specific activity. Total specific activity of PGDH was greatest in the testicular capsule, whereas total activity was greatest in the testicular parenchyma of both species. Total PGDH activity was highest in rat seminal vesicles, where it was second only to the testicular parenchyma. Castration significantly increased PGDH activity of the epididymis, prostate, and seminal vesicles of rats, while delta 13-reductase activity disappeared from those tissues. The specific activity of PGDH was greater in the rat than in the rabbit, except for the testicular parenchyma of the rabbit. The greater PGDH activity in rat testicular capsules, compared to those of the rabbit, correlated well with diminished contractility of the rat capsule. PGDH activity of the interstitial cells correlated well with the role of prostaglandins in androgen synthesis.