Histochemical study on lactic dehydrogenase of the seminal vesicles

Histochemical changes of lactic dehydrogenase activity according to aging were studied on the seminal vesicles of guinea pigs. The effect on lactic dehydrogenase activity of androgen injections, estrogen injections, castration, castration followed by androgen injections, and castration followed by estrogen injections were studied in the seminal vesicles of immature and mature gt]'inea pigs. The relation between lactic dehydrogenase activity of the seminal vesicle and size of the testes was studied in some of the human materials. Acid and alkaline phosphatase of the seminal vesicles of guinea pig and man were stained, and the distribution of lactic dehydrogenase was compared with those of acid and alkaline phosphatase. The results are summarized as follows. 1) Positive correlation was found between lactic dehydrogenase activity of the seminal vesicle epithelium and androgen activity in guinea pig. 2) Positive correlation was found between size of testis and lactic dehydrogenase of the human seminal vesicle epithelium. 3) On estrogen administration, lactic dehydrogenase of the seminal vesicles was markedly decreased in guinea pig. 4) The distribution of lactic dehydrogenase in the human seminal vesicle was similar to that of guinea pig, but the distribution of acid and alkaline phosphatase in the former differed from those of the latter.