Sex steroids levels in the plasma and testis during the reproductive cycle of lizard Podarcis s. sicula Raf.
Progesterone (P), 17-OH-progesterone (17-OH-P), androstenedione (A), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), testosterone (T), 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone (5 alpha-DHT), and 17 beta-estradiol (E2) were measured by RIA in plasma and testes of 114 males of the oviparous lizard Podarcis s. sicula raf, a species that displays annual hibernating cycles. Hormones were determined each month from January until December, except for August. Testosterone peaked at 174.8 ng/ml of plasma after emergence (March), while 5 alpha-DHT and A peaked in April. Plasma DHEA increased during hibernation. During the refractory period there were progressive increases in P and E2 plasma levels. The testicular peak of T, in March, coincided with that observed in plasma. The striking increases in testicular T and A in early July occurred at a time when plasma androgen concentrations were low. 5 alpha-DHT increased in April when spermatogenesis with spermiation occurred and then decreased alongside a second peak of T. There is an apparent separation of plasma and testicular androgen concentrations during the reproductive cycle.
Andò
S
S
Dipartimento di Biologia Cellulare, Università della Callabria, Italy.
Ciarcia
G
G
Panno
M L
ML
Imbrogno
E
E
Tarantino
G
G
Buffone
M
M
Beraldi
E
E
Angelini
F
F
Botte
V
V
D019326:17-alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone; D000735:Androstenedione / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000032:analysis; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone / Q000032:analysis; D004958:Estradiol / Q000032:analysis; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000032:analysis*; D006908:Hydroxyprogesterones / Q000032:analysis; D008116:Lizards / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D010507:Periodicity; D011374:Progesterone / Q000032:analysis; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D012098:Reproduction; D013737:Testis / Q000378:metabolism*; D013739:Testosterone
D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D006908:Hydroxyprogesterones; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone; D013739:Testosterone; D000735:Androstenedione; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol; D019326:17-alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone