Histological Changes of Rat Preputial Gland during Normal Sexual Cycle and Sex Hormone Treatment

성주기(性週期) 및 성(性)호르몬 주사(注射)에 따른 Rat 포피선(包皮腺)의 조직학적변화(組織學的變化)

In order to know the histological changes of rat preputial gland during normal sexual cycle and sex hormone treatment, matured Wistar rats (B.W.about 200g) were used for the experiment. Rats were subcutaneously given $2{\mu}g$ 17-${\beta}$-estradiol (Sigma) and 2.5g progesterone (Nakarai Chem., Japan) daily in 0.5ml propylen glycol for ten days respectively. The results obtained are as follow: At the stage of estrus and metestrus, the eosinophilic crystalloid granules and large vacuoles in the acinar cells appeared numerously, and the excretory ducts were severely extended. The developed connective tissue between the acinus were also found. At the stage of proestrus and diestrus, however, the small vacuoles and a few eosinophilic crystalloid granules appeared in the acinar cell. In the estradiol treatment, on the other hand, severely extended excretory ducts and a small number of the eosinophilic crystalloid granules compared with the progesterone treatment were found. The cyst-like structure was found, and in that the acinus disappeared completely. In the progesterone treatment, remarkably extended excretory ducts and nomerous appearance of oval formed eosinophilic granules in the acinar cells were found. As these findings, it could be suggested that the secretion of rat preputial gland was active at the estrus and metestrus stage, and estrogen may concerned in the secretion, land progesterone in the formation of secretory products.