Orchiectomy upregulates rabbit prostate peripheral benzodiazepine receptors.

The effect of orchiectomy on peripheral benzodiazepine receptors (PBZr) in the rabbit prostate was studied. The mean PBZr density in the mitochondrial fraction isolated from prostates of intact (non castrated) rabbits was 4066 fmol/mg protein which following castration increased to 7236 fmol/mg protein (p less than 0.005). The apparent dissociation constant (KD) of prostatic PBZr was higher in castrated rabbits (4.2 nM) than in intact animals (2.7 nM). These data suggest a role of androgen in the regulation of prostatic PBZr.