Effect of duration of the period after castration on the response of the rat ventral prostate to androgens.
If 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone (17beta-hydroxy-5alpha-androstan-3-one) is administered to castrated rats before prostatic atrophy has commenced, secretory activity of the prostate is stimulated, but not proliferation. Once the number of cells has fallen below normal, hormone induces proliferation until the normal cellular complement has been restored; then proliferation ceases, but secretory activity is stimulated.