INFLUENCE OF VARIOUS STEROIDS ON TESTES AND ACCESSORY SEX ORGANS IN THE RAT

1965 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
pp. 145-154 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fred A. Kind ◽  
M. Maqueo ◽  
Ralph I. Dorfman

ABSTRACT Various neutral steroids were studied in intact male rats for their ability to influence testicular function, particularly spermatogenesis. The compounds were injected once daily for 21 days, starting at 21 days of age. One day after the last injection, testicular histology and testis, ventral prostate, and seminal vesicle weights were determined. In some experiments, after the standard 21 day treatment period, testicular histology and function were evaluated after 30 and 60 day post-treatment recovery periods. 2α-Hydroxymethyl-17β-hydroxy-5α-androstan-3-one, 2-hydroxy-5α-androst-2-en-17β-ol, 2,17α-dimethyl-5α-androst-2-en-17β-ol and 2-formyl5α-androst-2-en-17β-ol caused decreases in testicular, ventral prostate and seminal vesicle weight and produced arrest of spermatogenesis. These effects were reversible and testis weight and histology, as well as fertility, were restored in the post-treatment period. 19-Norprogesterone, which did not produce convincing testicular atrophy, did cause significant decreases in ventral prostate and seminal vesicle weight. Chlormadinone showed a similar picture, although direct antagonistic testicular effects were also seen. The lowered ventral prostate and seminal vesicle weights produced by these compounds may be an expression of their antiandrogenic activity.

1985 ◽  
Vol 105 (3) ◽  
pp. 311-NP ◽  
Author(s):  
I. D. Morris

ABSTRACT Weekly doses of the Leydig cell cytotoxic ethylene dimethanesulphonate (EDS) were administered to adult male rats in an attempt to study the endocrine activity of the testis in the absence of Leydig cells. One week after the first dose serum testosterone and LH concentrations and seminal vesicle weights were close to levels in castrated rats and testicular human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) binding was severely depressed. These changes were maintained for a further week but subsequently began to return to, but did not achieve, control levels. After six weekly doses seminal vesicle weight and serum testosterone concentrations were significantly higher than in the castrated rats. Serum LH concentrations were declining towards control values at 4 weeks but had risen again at 6 weeks. Serum FSH concentrations were raised to about 50% of the value in castrated rats throughout the period studied. Testis weight and hCG binding, which initially fell, were partially restored at 6 weeks and spermatogenesis was recovering. The data show that responses of the testis to multiple doses of EDS are similar to those after a single dose. This apparent resistance indicates that the regenerating Leydig cells are functionally different from the mature Leydig cell. The similarities between the maturing Leydig cell seen after EDS destruction and those in the immature rat suggest that EDS will provide a valuable model for the investigation of Leydig cell physiology. J. Endocr. (1985) 105, 311–316


1971 ◽  
Vol 51 (2) ◽  
pp. 241-NP ◽  
Author(s):  
H. H. FEDER

SUMMARY 5α-Androstan-17β-ol-3-one in its free or in its propionate form was injected systemically (125 μg/day/rat) into sexually experienced, adult, castrated, male rats. These compounds were ineffective in activating masculine behaviour patterns, despite having measurable effects on body weight, seminal vesicle weight and penile morphology. The propionate form also had strong anti-gonadotrophic properties, since when it was injected for 6 days into intact, immature, male rats it significantly reduced testicular weight. In contrast, testosterone propionate (125 μg/day/rat) restored male sexual behaviour to the levels found before castration when injected systemically. Testosterone propionate also affected body weight, seminal vesicle weight, penile morphology and the testicular weight of immature males. These effects may have been due in part to conversion of testosterone to 5α-androstan-17β-ol-3-one, but this metabolic step does not seem to be obligatory for activation of male sexual behaviour in rats.


The Prostate ◽  
1987 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 361-375 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Fathy El Etreby ◽  
Ursula-F. Habenicht ◽  
Thomas Louton ◽  
Yukishige Nishino ◽  
Helmut G. Schröder

1976 ◽  
Vol 83 (1) ◽  
pp. 190-200 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. L. Verjans ◽  
K. B. Eik-Nes

ABSTRACT Testes of adult, male rats were exposed to a total dose of 1500 R of X-irradiation. Testicular weight decreased from day 8 after X-ray treatment. This decrease was, however, preceded by an increment of the testis weight on day 4 following treatment. X-ray treatment of testes was associated with significant increases in serum FSH. Testicular irradiation had, however, no effect on ventral prostate and seminal vesicles weights. Serum testosterone increased only on day 1, 2 and 4 after irradiation, while serum LH levels tended to increase from day 8 post-irradiation. These changes were not significant, however, when compared with non-irradiated controls. At 7, 13 and 20 days following 1500 R of bilateral, testicular X-irradiation, the hypothalamic-pituitary unit was still capable of responding to exogenous gonadotrophin releasing factor. Serum FSH may in male rats be regulated at least partly by circulating steroids of testicular origin and partly by an unknown factor of non-interstitial cell nature.


1960 ◽  
Vol XXXIV (III) ◽  
pp. 344-352 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jerome A. Grunt ◽  
Joseph E. Walker

ABSTRACT The responses of several seminal vesicle in vivo microscopic characteristics, seminal vesicle contractions, seminal vesicle, kidney and adrenal weights and seminal vesicle histology have been compared following the administration of testosterone propionate (T. P.) and norethandrolone (19-NT) to castrated male rats. Fourteen days after castration 35 male Osborne-Mendel rats were divided into 5 groups each containing 6 to 8 animals and given daily subcutaneous injections of 0.1 ml sesame oil with or without added steroids. The groups were: I – sesame oil; II – 100 μg 19-NT; III – 500 μg 19-NT; IV – 100 μg T.P.; V – 500 μg T. P. After 7 days of injections, seminal vesicles were studied by the transillumination method of Knisely. The seminal vesicles, adrenals and kidneys were then removed and weighed and the vesicles were prepared for routine histological examination. The adrenal and kidney weights, as well as the seminal vesicle contractions, responded to both steroids in a similar manner, however, seminal vesicle weight and histology and in vivo characteristics differed greatly. 19-NT appeared to have very little effect on vesicle weight, in vivo characteristics and histology although contractions were inhibited in 13 of 14 animals so treated. Therefore, when used as the end-point in hormonal reactions, seminal vesicle contractions should not be considered comparable to the usual secondary sexual organ reactivity to hormones.


1987 ◽  
Vol 116 (2) ◽  
pp. 193-199 ◽  
Author(s):  
Santosh K. Varma ◽  
Eric Bloch

Abstract. The oestrogen mestranol (0, 0.01, 0.1 mg/kg body weight per day) and the progestins medroxyprogesterone-acetate and norethisterone (0, 2, 20 mg/kg body weight per day each) in sesame oil were intubated intragastrically daily during gestational days 14.5 through 19.5 to pregnant rats. Males were studied as 20.5-day-old foetuses and 4-month-old adults for serum testosterone and LH concentrations, in vitro testosterone synthesis, anogenital distance (foetuses only) and testes, seminal vesicle and ventral prostate weights. Administration of 0.1 mg mestranol decreased by 35 to 70% basal and LH-stimulated testosterone synthesis by both foetal and adult testes in vitro (P < 0.01). Foetal body weights (P < 0.05), but not anogenital distances, were significantly decreased. Testosterone content in adult sera was reduced significantly (P < 0.05) to less than 50% of control. Testes, ventral prostate, seminal vesicle and epididymal weights were unaffected by treatment. Medroxyprogesterone acetate or norethisterone administration did not alter testes endocrine function in foetal or adult offspring. In a small number of rats, pregnant for 10.5, 14.5 or 18.5 days, [3H]ethinyloestradiol was intubated and foetal and placental tissue examined for appearance and content of radioactivity. Radioactivity was detected in 10.5, 14.5 and 18.5 days old placentas, and 14.5 and 18.5 days old foetal liver, gonads and external genitalia. With [3H]medroxyprogesterone acetate, radioactivity was localized in 14.5 day placenta and foetal tissues. Thin-layer chromatographic analysis showed most of the activity to migrate as authentic ethinyloestradiol or medroxyprogesterone acetate. The results demonstrate inhibition of testicular testosterone synthesis by mestranol, presumably by being transferred across the placenta and acting in the foetus. The diminished activity of adult testes indicates a permanent effect of in utero mestranol exposure on testes function.


1988 ◽  
Vol 118 (3) ◽  
pp. 437-443 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janine L. Brown ◽  
Prabir K. Chakraborty

Abstract. Clomiphene citrate (clomiphene) inhibits reproduction in male rats; however, stimulatory effects have been reported at low doses. Male rats were implanted at 60 (adult), 35 (peripubertal) or 10 (prepubertal) days of age with pellets that delivered 0,0.05, 0.5 or 5.0 mg clomiphene · kg−1 · day−1 and were sacrificed after 7 or 14 days of treatment. Testis weight was unaffected by clomiphene in adult and peripubertal rats, but was reduced by all doses in prepubertal rats. Seminal vesicle and prostate gland weights were decreased to varying degrees by clomiphene in all animals, except seminal vesicle weight in peripubertal rats. Serum LH and testosterone were decreased by most doses in all age groups, whereas pituitary LH was decreased in prepubertal rats only. Pituitary GnRH and testicular LH receptor concentrations were reduced in all treated animals. Serum and pituitary FSH were decreased in pre- and peripubertal rats, whereas testicular FSH receptor concentrations were unaffected by treatment. In summary, 1) reproductive function was compromised by clomiphene and many responses were age-dependent, 2) reductions in gonadotropins suggest that clomiphene decreased their synthesis and/or release, and 3) decreased serum LH and testicular LH receptor concentrations were coupled to reduced testosterone secretion.


2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 21-27
Author(s):  
Augustave Kenfack ◽  
◽  
Edouard Akono Nantia ◽  
Ferdinand Ngoula ◽  
Arthénice Jemima Guiekep Nounamo ◽  
...  

Background: Pesticide toxicity is one of the major environmental health problems for the modern societies, as some of the effects may last long time after exposure. Propoxur is one of the Carbamate pesticide largely used in agriculture in the Western region of Cameroon. Methods: In order to evaluate the post-exposure effects of propoxur, 48 male rats (12 animals per group) aged 30 d were orally gavaged with 0.00, 1.73, 2.60 and 5.20 mg.kg-1 body weight of propoxur for 90 d. At the end of treatment, 6 rats per group were sacrificed and others were followed up for 90 additional days and submitted to a fertility test before sacrifice. Results: At the end of exposure propoxur significantly increased (P<0.05) the testis weight while it decreased (P<0.05) the cauda epididymal sperm motility in rat. Propoxur treatment and post-treatment exposure showed variable effect on the fertility rate with an increase and decrease at 2.60 and 5.20 mg.kg-1, respectively. At the 90th day post treatment, there was a significant decrease (P<0.05) in epididymis weight and sperm count and motility (P<0.05). In addition, post-exposure treatment with propoxur reduced (P<0.05) the pup litter size and the sex ratio at all doses. Histopathological examination revealed a high vacuity of germinal epithelia in treated rats that persisted after post-exposure time. Conclusion: Propoxur negatively affected male rats’ reproductive parameters with more significant adverse effects observed 90 d after the end of exposure.


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