[Castration affects the expression of androgen receptor and epidermal growth factor in rat submaxillary salivary gland].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of castration on the quantity of androgen receptor (AR) and the epidermal growth factor (EGF) in the submaxillary salivary glands of castrated rats. METHODS: Sixty male Wistar rats, aged 30 to approximately 60 days, were randomly divided into three groups of 20 rats: castrated, sham-operated and normal control (unoperated). The submaxillary salivary glands of the castrated rats were removed one week after surgery, and so were those of the rats in the sham-operated and the normal control groups. The homogenized salivary gland was used for Western-blots. RESULTS: The quantity of AR and EGF in the submaxillary salivary glands was decreased significantly in the castrated rats compared with that in the sham-operated and the normal control ( P < 0. 05). Moreover, EGF secreted by the submaxillary salivary glands was also decreased in the castrated rats (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Castration affected the production of androgen receptor in the salivary gland, and also, could further affect the secretion of EGF from the salivary gland.