title: Effects of in vivo and in vitro exposure to bromocriptine on testicular LH receptors and in vitro testosterone production in Syrian hamsters.
abstract: The effects of in vivo and in vitro exposure to bromocriptine (CB-154) were studied in testes of Syrian hamsters. In animals treated for two days with CB-154, a decrease in LH receptors (LH-R) was observed, with a greater decrease being measured in hamsters treated for 14 days, when compared with controls. Injection of HCG caused, in hamsters treated with CB-154 for 14 days, up-regulation of LH-R and increased testosterone synthesis in response to HCG administration in vitro. These changes were not observed in the two other groups of animals. When testis fragments were incubated with CB-154, those incubated with a large dose (10 micrograms/ml) had a normal pattern of response to HCG, and those incubated with a small dose (1 ng/ml) had a smaller maximum response. These actions are similar to those observed in men treated with CB-154. It can be therefore concluded that: a) CB-154 has a direct effect on the testes; b) it probably is through modulation of LH-R synthesis; c) Syrian hamsters probably represent the best model for the study of the effects of CB-154 on the testes; and d) the possibility of using CB-154 as an adjuvant of gonadotropin treatment in hypogonadism has to be considered.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, SIU School of Medicine, Carbondale, IL 62901-6512.
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Amador
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bartke
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001971:Bromocriptine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000494:pharmacology; D006224:Cricetinae; D004298:Dopamine / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008647:Mesocricetus / Q000378:metabolism*; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood; D011974:Receptors, LH / Q000187:drug effects*; D012377:Rodentia / Q000378:metabolism; D013045:Species Specificity; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D013739:Testosterone / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D011974:Receptors, LH; D001971:Bromocriptine; D013739:Testosterone; D011388:Prolactin; D004298:Dopamine