Induction of apoptosis by castration in epithelium of the mouse seminal vesicles.

Castration on days 0, 5, 10, 20, 40, and 60 caused increases in an apoptotic index (% of apoptotic cells) in seminal vesicle (SV) epithelium, peaking 1-3 days after castration. The peak apoptotic indices after castration on days 0, 5, 10, and 20 were significantly lower than peak apoptotic indices observed after castration on days 40 and 60. DNA extracted from mouse SVs 2 days after castration on days 0, 5, 10, and 60 showed a ladder pattern on agarose gel electrophoresis. The secretion of androgen by testes was confirmed by the growth retardation of the SVs after castration on days 0, 5, 10, and 20. It would appear that a proportion of SV epithelial cells dependent on testicular androgens for survival is smaller before day 20 than after day 20.