Effects of diethylstilboestrol on testicular function and luteinizing hormone receptors.
Adult male Fisher-344 rats were implanted with DES-filled or empty Silastic capsules. After 14 weeks, capsules were removed and a second group of rats received DES capsules. Seven weeks later, all the rats were sacrificed. DES treatment decreased body, testes and seminal vesicle weights, and removal of the capsules partially restored the weight of these organs. The concentration of testicular LH receptors was increased by DES treatment. Circulating PRL levels were increased and gonadotropin levels were reduced in all animals having received DES at anytime. Plasma testosterone (T) levels were similar in all groups, but testicular T levels were reversibly decreased by DES. Similarly, whereas basal incubation media T levels were unchanged by DES treatment, the steroidogenic response in vitro to hCG was abolished by the presence of DES, and removal of the capsules restored this response. It appears that in this animal model DES and PRL exert opposing effects on testicular LH receptor.
Amador
A G
AG
Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale 62901-6512.
Esquifino
A I
AI
Bartke
A
A
Chandrashekar
V
V
Fernández-Ruiz
J J
JJ
Steger
R W
RW
Hodges
S L
SL
D000818:Animals; D004054:Diethylstilbestrol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood*; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D011974:Receptors, LH / Q000032:analysis* / Q000187:drug effects; D013737:Testis / Q000032:analysis* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D013739:Testosterone / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood
D011974:Receptors, LH; D013739:Testosterone; D004054:Diethylstilbestrol; D011388:Prolactin; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone