Historical Contribution: 1968, Coffey et al, DNA, Androgens and Prostate Growth

1968
Coffey DS, Shimazaki J, Williams-Ashman HG. Polymerization of Deoxyribonucleotides in Realtion to Androgen-Induced Prostatic Growth. Ach Biochem Biophys. 1968. 124(1):184-98.


 

Donald S. Coffey, PhD

Long before becoming the Director of the Research Laboratories in the Department of Urology in 1974, Dr. Donald Coffey started a long career of investigation and discovery in the realm of benign and malignant prostatic growth. Based on observations that restoration of androgens after castration often results in regrowth of androgen-sensitive tissues, Coffey postulated that hyperplastic and hypertrophic changes in prostatic tissue could be detected in changes in DNA content.

In this 1968 manuscript, Dr. Coffey found that large doses of testosterone, when given to normal rats, only resulted in small increases in prostatic DNA content and DNA polymerase activity, and high levels of prostatic DNA activity and DNA polymerase levels are only present when the cells undergo active proliferation. The data supporting these conclusions demonstrates that following castration, the rat prostate decreases in size and DNA content. With exogenous testosterone, the prostate will grow and DNA content restored to normal levels… for some time. Even if excessive amounts of testosterone are administered, eventually the prostatic DNA content will plateau. DNA polymerase activity mirrored this effect, paralleling "the enhancement of "DNA synthesis" by intact prostatic cells."

 
Follow the link here to access the manuscript from Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics.


Visit the Centennial Website or click here to see more about the first 100 years at the Brady.

HISTORICAL CONTRIBUTIONS highlight the greatest academic manuscripts from the Brady Urological Institute over the past 100 years.  As the Brady Urological Institute approaches its centennial, we will present a HISTORICAL CONTRIBUTION from each of the past 100 years.  In the most recent experience, the most highly cited article from each year is selected; older manuscripts were selected based on their perceived impact on the field.  We hope you enjoy!