# EFFECTS OF ESTROGEN ON PROSTATE FUNCTION DURING AGING

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI-COLUMBIA · 1993 · $168,942

## Abstract

The hypothesis to be tested in the proposed experiments is that the
levels of gonadal steroids to which males are exposed during fetal life
play a major role in determining the normal functioning of, and incidence
of pathology in, prostate and coagulating glands as well as fertility
during aging in male mice (Mus domesticus).   Preliminary studies have
shown that male mice with slightly elevated serum estradiol (E2) during
fetal life have enlarged prostates, the greatest number of prostatic
androgen receptors, and the highest rates of sexual behavior in
adulthood.  In contrast, exposure to a high (pharmacological) dose of E2
during fetal life has exactly the opposite effect on prostate weight and
androgen receptors.  The effects of estrogen exposure during fetal life
on male accessory reproductive organs is thus dose dependent.  Our
experimental procedure involves treating pregnant females with a range of
doses of E2 during the last third of pregnancy, and preliminary studies
have been completed to determine the doses which increase serum E2 in
male fetuses from 50-500% relative to untreated males.  We will also
administer a dose of testosterone (T) which elevates serum T in male
fetuses by 50%, due to a surprising preliminary finding that this leads
to a marked decrease in prostate weight in adulthood.  Males from each
prenatal treatment group will be examined in young adulthood, middle age
and old age when gonadally intact or after castration/ adrenalectomy and
replacement of gonadal steroids to control for any potential effects of
prenatal treatment on gonadal steroid levels.  Enzyme activity,
fertility, sperm numbers in testes and epididymides, and both androgen
and estrogen receptor numbers in prostate and coagulating glands will be
examined.  Regional heterogeneity of these organs will be assessed by
conducting morphometric analysis coupled with in situ hybridization
histochemistry (ISHH) for androgen and estrogen receptor mRNA's; these
studies will use sections from the same organs.  In addition to examining
organs from young adult, middle aged, and old males, tissue will also be
collected for morphometric and ISHH analysis during the fetal period of
differentiation of prostate and coagulating glands.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3120150
- **Project number:** 1R01AG008496-01A3
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI-COLUMBIA
- **SAM.gov UEI:** SZPJL5ZRCLF4
- **Principal Investigator:** FREDERICK S VOM SAAL
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1993
- **Award amount:** $168,942
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 1993-05-01 → 1996-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3120150

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3120150, EFFECTS OF ESTROGEN ON PROSTATE FUNCTION DURING AGING (1R01AG008496-01A3). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3120150. Licensed CC0.

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