Is FSH required for maintenance of spermatogenesis in adult rats?
Administration of FSH antiserum to adult rats for 14 or 30 days had no or little effect on body, testis or accessory sex gland weights, androgen-binding protein, testosterone levels, germ cell numbers or fertility, thus indicating a relative insensitivity of the testis to withdrawal of FSH. Unlike immature rats, therefore, which do require FSH to initiate spermatogenesis, adult rats do not need this hormone to maintain spermatogenesis.
D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D007106:Immune Sera / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size; D051381:Rats; D011944:Receptors, Androgen / Q000378:metabolism; D013091:Spermatogenesis; D013737:Testis / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000378:metabolism
D007106:Immune Sera; D011944:Receptors, Androgen; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone