Effects of chronic administration of dehydroepiandrosterone on serum testosterone levels and prostatic tissue in rats.

Abstract

We evaluated the effects of chronic administration of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) on serum total testosterone and DHEA sulfate (DHEAS), prostatic weight and histological features in the rat. Wistar rats were divided into 2 groups. The first group of 9 rats received saline solution orally once daily during 5 days of the week for 10 months and the second group of 15 received 5 mg/kg daily DHEA in suspension orally in the same pattern. At the end of the 10-month study period total testosterone levels were higher in the DHEA group compared with controls (2.0 +/- 0.4 vs 0.8 +/- 0.2 mg/dl, p <0.0001) and DHEAS levels were also greater in the treated group compared with placebo (222.1 +/- 41.5 vs 2.0 +/- 0.3 mg/dl, p <0.0001). Weight of the prostate, testis and body did not differ between the groups (p >0.05). No differences between the 2 groups were noted in regard to the degree of hyperplasia, atrophy, a papillary component or the stromal-to-gland ratio (p >0.05). Oral ingestion of DHEA on a chronic basis in the rat increases serum DHEAS and total testosterone without any evident change in prostate weight or histology.