Investigations upon the mechanism of inhibition of spermatogenesis in the rat by a dimeric ethynodiol-testosterone ester

1988 ◽  
Vol 117 (4) ◽  
pp. 536-544 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hans-Joachim Born ◽  
Petra Hörster-Poschmann ◽  
Wilfried Stoll ◽  
Jürgen Sandow ◽  
Hans-Dieter Taubert ◽  
...  

Abstract. The combination of androgens and progestogens has been shown to be a suitable male contraceptive. Previous experiments revealed that injection of a dimeric testosterone-ethynodiol ester into rats and monkeys induces azoospermia for several weeks. In order to investigate the mechanism of action, we compared the endocrine effects of a single injection of 10 mg of the dimeric ester into intact male rats with that of 6 mg of norethisterone enanthate + 6 mg of testosterone enanthate. After the injection of the dimer there was a transitory reduction of serum FSH and a strong suppression of serum LH and testosterone, of testicular testosterone and of androgen-binding protein (ABP) in the testis and epididymis for at least 8 weeks, whereas spermatogenesis was totally depressed between the 4th and 8th week. Contrary to this, the enanthates caused only a slight suppression of spermatogenesis, although serum LH, testicular testosterone and ABP were profoundly reduced. The only conspicuous difference in the endocrine pattern of both groups during the first 4 weeks was in the serum testosterone level which remained normal in the rats treated with the enanthates. The results suggest that testicular testosterone and ABP concentrations are of minor significance for an intact spermatogenesis, and that some other factors produced by Sertoli cells might be involved and possibly maintained by normal serum testosterone levels.

1985 ◽  
Vol 105 (2) ◽  
pp. 211-218 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. A. Keel ◽  
T. O. Abney

ABSTRACT The influence of age on the sensitivity of the testis to oestrogens was investigated. Intact male rats at 10, 25, 40 and 53 days of age were injected s.c. with vehicle, 5 or 50 μg oestradiol or diethylstilboestrol (DES)/100 g body wt twice daily for 2 days; the animals were killed 12 h after the last injection. Subsequently, the concentrations of testicular androgens and serum LH, prolactin, testosterone and androstanediol (5α-androstane-3α, 17β-diol) were measured. Testicular androgen production was determined in vitro in the presence or absence of human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) or dibutyryl cyclic AMP (dbcAMP). Androgens in the serum and testes displayed an age-related alternating pattern with androstanediol being the major androgen produced at 27 days of age. As a result of oestrogen treatment, serum LH concentrations were decreased while serum prolactin was increased. Serum testosterone was decreased by 36–55% in the 12-day-old group and further reduced by 95% of control values by day 55; serum androstanediol was less sensitive to oestrogen suppression. Testicular concentrations of both testosterone and androstanediol exhibited a marked reduction in 12-day-old animals as a result of oestrogen administration. These values were reduced by 85–95% at day 27 and remained suppressed even at 55 days. Basal production of testosterone was unaffected by oestrogen treatment in 12- and 27-day-old animals but was markedly decreased by day 42. Significant suppression of basal production of androstanediol was observed as early as day 12. Oestradiol treatment caused a significant reduction in hCG responsiveness of both androgens at days 12, 42 and 55. Oestrogen administration resulted in a significant (32–59%) decline in dbcAMP-responsive testosterone production in the 42-day group and a further suppression in the 55-day group. A marked inhibition of dbcAMP-stimulated androstanediol production was also observed in the 42- and 55-day groups. Testosterone production in response to dbcAMP was not significantly altered in the 12- and 27-day groups. With few exceptions the effects of oestradiol and DES on testicular function were similar. The data presented here suggest that the inhibitory effects of oestrogens become more pronounced as the animal approaches adulthood, that oestradiol and DES are similarly effective in regulating testicular function at all ages studied and that the production of both testosterone and androstanediol are suppressed by oestrogen administration. J. Endocr. (1985) 105, 211–218


1984 ◽  
Vol 100 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-41 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. F. S. Huang ◽  
P. Zaidi ◽  
E. Nieschlag

ABSTRACT Pituitary–testicular relationships in mature male rats were investigated during the period of germinal involution after the induction of vitamin A deficiency (VAD). Vitamin A deficiency caused a decrease in testicular weight, a gradual increase in the incidence of delayed spermiation, increased phagocytosis of spermatids and pyknosis of germ cell nuclei in rats aged 80 to 110 days. Both basal and gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH)-stimulated serum FSH concentrations were increased by 100 days of age. During the same period, the per cent increment in GnRH-stimulated FSH secretion, pituitary FSH concentration and LH secretion remained unchanged. These results suggest that the increased serum FSH may mark specifically an alteration in the germinal epithelium. By 140 days of age, spermatogenic activity in the rats with VAD was limited to the spermatogonial proliferations so that only Sertoli cells, spermatogonia and preleptotene spermatocytes remained. At this time hypersecretion of FSH persisted while the per cent increment of GnRH-stimulated FSH secretion decreased. Concomitantly, basal and GnRH-stimulated LH concentrations were also increased in the presence of normal serum testosterone. These results indicate that a complete cessation of spermatogenesis beyond preleptotene spermatocytes is associated with a change in the secretion of both FSH and LH. The relationship between serum LH and testosterone was normal until at least 110 days of age. By 140 days the ratio between basal LH and basal testosterone, and between total LH and total testosterone, after GnRH administration, increased in the rats with VAD. These changes may be caused by a hyporesponsiveness of the Leydig cells which may, in turn, be attributed to the cessation of spermatogenesis. J. Endocr. (1984) 100, 33–41


2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Murtala Akanji Abdullahi ◽  
Elijah Oladapo Oyinloye ◽  
Akinyinka Alabi ◽  
Aderonke Adeyinka Aderinola ◽  
Luqman Opeyemi Ogunjimi ◽  
...  

Abstract Objectives Several studies have established the ethnobotanical benefits of Pupalia lappacea (PL) in laboratory animals without extensive toxicological evaluation of its safety profiles. Thus, an extensive toxicological investigation of sub-chronic oral administration of the hydroethanol leaf extract of P. lappacea in rodents was carried out in this study. Methods Different groups of rats were treated orally with the extract (10, 50 and 250 mg/kg) daily for 90 consecutive days. The control group received distilled water (10 mL/kg). After 90 days, some rats were left for additional 30 days without treatment for reversibility study. Blood and organs samples were collected for different evaluations at the end of study periods. Results The extract decreased the bodyweights, feeding and water intakes in female rats. PL increased the weights of the liver and kidney in male rats. PL increased the red blood cell (RBC), packed cell volume (PCV), hemoglobin (Hb), triglycerides (TRIG), cholesterol and high density lipoprotein (HDL) contents in rats. PL (250 mg/kg) significantly reduced the sperm motility and serum testosterone level. Cyto-architectural distortions of the testes, liver and spleen were visible. Conclusions The findings showed that P. lappacea is relatively safe at lower doses but cautions should be taken at higher dose.


PEDIATRICS ◽  
1983 ◽  
Vol 72 (3) ◽  
pp. 384-389
Author(s):  
Harold K. Marder ◽  
Laxmi S. Srivastava ◽  
Stephen Burstein

Serum gonadotropin and testosterone concentrations were measured in ten peripubertal boys to assess the effects of uremia on pubertal maturation. Serum luteinizing hormone (LH) concentrations were elevated for stage of puberty in eight boys, whereas in most boys serum follicle-stimulating hormone and testosterone concentrations were normal. Serum LH concentrations correlated with the severity of uremia. LH levels declined when measured 1 year after the initial measurements in four boys who received renal allografts, but were further elevated in two boys who were treated conservatively. Elevated serum LH concentrations in the presence of normal serum testosterone concentrations imply limited testicular sensitivity to the effects of LH in these peripubertal boys, as has been documented for adult men with chronic renal failure. Alternatively, there may be accumulation of an immunoreactive LH molecule that lacks bioactivity. A testicular dysfunction may explain the pubertal delay experienced by some uremic adolescent boys.


1995 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
pp. 1101 ◽  
Author(s):  
MP Hedger ◽  
S Khatab ◽  
G Gonzales ◽  
Kretser DM de

In this study, adult male rats were injected intraperitoneally with a single dose of serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5HT; 10 mg kg-1 bodyweight) for 2 h or 18 h, or daily with graded doses of 5HT (0.1-10 mg kg-1) for four days before being killed. Serum and testicular interstitial fluid (IF) concentrations of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), testosterone and immunoreactive-inhibin were measured by radioimmunoassay, and one testis was removed for histological examination. At 2 h after a single injection, 5HT caused a significant inhibition of serum concentrations of LH and inhibin, recovered IF volume and intratesticular testosterone concentrations; testis weight and serum concentrations of testosterone and FSH were unaffected. At 18 h after injection, all parameters had returned to normal, with the exception of intratesticular testosterone concentration which remained lower than normal. The lowest 5HT dose (0.1 mg kg-1) had no effect on any parameter following four daily injections. At a dose of 1.0 mg kg-1 5HT, there was a four-fold increase in the concentration of serum LH, but testis weight, recovered IF volume, testosterone and inhibin concentrations and serum concentrations of FSH were not significantly affected. At the highest dose of 5HT (10 mg kg-1) after four daily injections, testis weight decreased, and IF volume increased nearly three-fold. Testis concentrations of inhibin and serum testosterone were reduced, whereas serum concentrations of both LH and FSH were elevated; intratesticular testosterone concentrations did not differ from controls. Only at the highest dose of 5HT was disruption to the seminiferous epithelium observed, with focal damage ranging in severity from increased degeneration of spermatogenic cell profiles, to complete loss of the germinal epithelium; however, many tubule profiles displayed completely normal spermatogenesis. The acute IF volume reduction and spermatogenic disruption in 5HT-treated rats were consistent with localized ischaemia due to constriction of the testicular arterial supply. The eventual increase in IF volume observed after 5HT treatment appeared to be secondary to the loss of germ cells. Although 5HT also inhibited pituitary LH release and Leydig cell steroidogenesis, these effects appeared to play only a minor role in the induction of spermatogenic damage.


1977 ◽  
Vol 86 (3) ◽  
pp. 489-497 ◽  
Author(s):  
K.-D. Döhler ◽  
K. Gärtner ◽  
A. von zur Mühlen ◽  
U. Döhler

ABSTRACT Groups of adult male rats were decapitated without anaesthesia 30 seconds or 5, 10, 15 and 60 min after disturbance stress (investigators entering the animal room and moving the cages). The serum concentrations of LH, FSH, TSH, prolactin, triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) were measured by radioimmunoassay and corticosterone by a fluorometric method. With regard to the hormone levels measured in serum obtained within 30 seconds after induction of disturbance stress to resemble most closely the actual unstressed levels of endogenous hormones in circulation, serum corticosterone levels increased within 5 min. indicating that the procedure was stressful to the animals. In addition the serum prolactin and TSH levels were significantly elevated within 5 min, T3 within 60 min. Whereas corticosterone reached peak levels after 15 min. the serum levels of prolactin, TSH and T3 were still rising after 60 min. The FSH levels remained rather stable during the first 10 min. but started to rise during the following 5 min. At 60 min FSH levels were back to normal. Serum LH and T4 showed only minor fluctuations during the experimental period. These results indicate, that not only is the pituitary-adrenal axis stimulated by emotional stress, but also the pituitary-thyroid axis. It also seems, that emotional stress leads to a general activation of pituitary hormone release. Hence, proper care should be taken with regard to animal keeping, handling and the method of blood collection when dealing with rats as experimental animals.


2016 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 136-143 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yi Ren ◽  
Xiaoguang Yang ◽  
Yu Zhang ◽  
Ying Wang ◽  
Xuezhi Li

Objectives Partial androgen deficiency of the aging male (PADAM) is characterised by a deficiency in serum androgen levels. Both electroacupuncture (EA) and mild moxibustion (MM) can raise serum testosterone levels in PADAM. We investigated the mechanisms underlying the use of EA and MM in a rodent model of PADAM. Methods Fifty rats received cyclophosphamide injection over 5 consecutive days to induce PADAM, which was verified by comparing total testosterone (TT) and free testosterone (FT) levels with 10 non-PADAM healthy control rats (CON). Successful modelling was confirmed in 43 of 50 rats, 40 of which were randomly divided into untreated (PADAM), EA-treated (PADAM+EA), MM-treated (PADAM+MM), and androlin (AD)-treated (PADAM+AD) groups (n=10 each). EA and MM were administered at BL23 and CV4 acupuncture points for 8 weeks, and no treatment was given to rats in the PADAM and CON groups. Serum levels of luteinising hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), mRNA expression of cytochrome P450c17 (P450c17) and 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 1 (3β-HSD1), and protein levels of cytochrome P450 side chain cleavage (P450scc), 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 3 (17β-HSD3) and steroidogenic factor 1 (SF-1) were evaluated after 8 weeks. Results Both EA and mild MM significantly increased serum TT and FT levels with MM displaying superiority. P450scc, 17β-HSD3 and SF-1 protein expression, and P450c17 and 3β-HSD1 mRNA expression, were significantly increased and serum LH and FSH levels were significantly decreased in PADAM+EA and PADAM+MM relative to PADAM rats. Moreover, serum LH and FSH levels were significantly lower and 17β-HSD3 protein expression significantly higher in PADAM+MM relative to PADAM+EA rats. Conclusions EA and MM at the BL23 and CV4 acupuncture points appear to be effective treatments for PADAM, and MM displays superior efficacy to EA.


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.


1982 ◽  
Vol 95 (2) ◽  
pp. 267-274 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. N. Clayton ◽  
L. C. Bailey

Measurement of pituitary gonadotrophin releasing hormone (Gn-RH) receptor content provides a qualitative index of prior exposure of the pituitary gland to endogenous Gn-RH. The effect of moderate hyperprolactinaemia (serum prolactin = 95–250 μg/l), achieved with three pituitary grafts beneath the renal capsule, on the pituitary Gn-RH receptor content and serum LH responses to gonadectomy of adult rats has been studied. In males the presence of hyperprolactinaemia for 7 days completely prevented the increase in Gn-RH receptor content 3 days after castration and inhibited the serum LH rise by 45%. By 6 days after castration, Gn-RH receptors had increased in the hyperprolactinaemic castrated animals but values were 33% lower than in sham-grafted controls, while the serum LH increase was attenuated by 30%. Pituitary LH content was also lower in grafted castrated animals 6 days after castration. Hyperprolactinaemia for 3 weeks had no effect on Gn-RH receptors or pituitary LH content of intact male rats, although basal serum LH was decreased by 50%. Hyperprolactinaemia also attenuated the increases in Gn-RH receptors, serum LH and pituitary LH which occurred 6 days after ovariectomy in female rats. In all experiments the pituitary content of prolactin was reduced by 80–90% in animals bearing pituitary grafts. These results suggest that hyperprolactinaemia restricts the Gn-RH receptor response to gonadectomy by decreasing endogenous hypothalamic Gn-RH secretion.


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