title: Effect of in vivo administration of 5 alpha reductase inhibitors on epididymal function.
abstract: Progesterone, epitestosterone (4-androstene-17 alpha-ol-3-one, EpiT) and 4- androstene-3-one-17 beta-carboxylic acid (COOH), three known in vitro inhibitors of 5 alpha reductase, were injected daily for 30 days to male rats to study their effect on some parameters of epididymal function. Progesterone at the dose of 750 and 2000 micrograms/day decreased fertility by 59% and 50% respectively. EpiT at a dose of 1500 micrograms/day decreased fertility by 74%. These treatments did not change the sperm counts in the cauda epididymis. Treatment with COOH did not decrease fertility. Progesterone at 750 and 2000 micrograms/day and EpiT at 750 micrograms/day decreased the weight of the epididymis, prostate and seminal vesicles. None of the compounds tested produced variations in body weight or in the weight of liver and testis. The 5 alpha reductase activity of epididymis, testis and liver was diminished by progesterone treatment, while EpiT decreased only that of testis and liver.
mesh_terms: D058891:5-alpha Reductase Inhibitors; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D004822:Epididymis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D004845:Epitestosterone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility / Q000187:drug effects; D005837:Genitalia, Male / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D010088:Oxidoreductases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011374:Progesterone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013076:Sperm Count; D013739:Testosterone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D058891:5-alpha Reductase Inhibitors; C036805:testosterone formate; D013739:Testosterone; D004845:Epitestosterone; D011374:Progesterone; D010088:Oxidoreductases