Before and after androgen replacement therapy prostatic and seminovesicular volume was estimated by means of transrectal ultrasonography in 13 hypogonadal men. Volume of the prostate (p less than 0.001) and seminal vesicles (p less than 0.01) significantly increased after treatment with testosterone enanthate. However, the plasma level of testosterone remained abnormally low. These results indicate that volume determination of the prostate and seminal vesicles by means of transrectal ultrasonography is suitable for evaluating the adequacy of androgen replacement therapy in male hypogonadism.

Testicular microlithiasis was found in a 30-year-old infertile man. The literature is reviewed and the possible influence of testicular microlithiasis on male infertility is discussed.

In order to estimate the synthesis of arachidonate in the liver of fetal, suckling and pregnant rats, the conversion rate of linoleate to γ-linolenate was studied. The significantly higher conversion rate was found both in fetal and pregnant animal, whereas the ratio of arachidonate to linoleate in plasma lipid as well as in liver microsomal lipid was not elevated in pregnant rats. Instead of reduced conversion rate of 6-day suckling rats, the ratio of arachidonate to linoleate in plasma was higher than that of pregnant animals, probably due toincreased supply of linoleate as substrate from mother’s milk.

Twenty males underwent transrectal ultrasonography before and after ejaculation to examine possible alterations that could influence interpretation of seminal vesicle ultrasonography. The preejaculation length of 35 mm was significantly (p < 0.05) decreased to 30 mm after ejaculation. The mean width of the seminal vesicles was 13 mm before and 11 mm after ejaculation. The seminal vesicle volume was significantly diminished after ejaculation (p < 0.05). It therefore seems important to maintain a period of abstinence when evaluating the seminal vesicles by ultrasonography.