Testosterone production in mature scorbutic mutant rats unable to synthesize ascorbic acid.
The effect of a deficiency of ascorbic acid (AsA) on in-vivo testosterone production in mature male rats was investigated using a mutant strain of rats (ODS rats) unable to synthesize AsA. Male 60-day-old rats were fed AsA-deficient lab chow for 28 days with [ODS(+)] or without [ODS(-)] AsA supply. The AsA levels in the liver of ODS(-) rats were undetectable and those in the testes decreased to about 25% of those in ODS(+) rats by day 28. Plasma LH levels in ODS(-) rats decreased to about 30% of those in ODS(+) rats by day 28. However, there were no significant differences in the plasma levels of testosterone, or in the relative weights of seminal vesicles and ventral prostates between ODS(+) and ODS(-) rats. Plasma levels of testosterone in ODS(-) rats after a single injection of 200 IU hCG changed similarly to that in ODS(+) rats. The metabolic clearance rate of testosterone was also the same at 60 min after an intravenous injection of [3H]testosterone in both groups. These results indicate that AsA-deficiency in adult rats causes no significant change in basal plasma levels of testosterone or in the response to hCG, despite decreased plasma LH levels.
Ito
Y
Y
Department of Pathology, Osaka Medical College, Japan.
Tsuji
M
M
Terada
N
N
Miyano
M
M
Mori
H
H
D000818:Animals; D001206:Ascorbic Acid Deficiency / Q000378:metabolism*; D001835:Body Weight; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000494:pharmacology; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size; D051381:Rats; D011922:Rats, Mutant Strains; D013737:Testis / Q000378:metabolism; D013739:Testosterone / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood
D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D013739:Testosterone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone