title: Effect of pineal treatment on testicular biochemical parameters under basal conditions and after stimulation with HCG in the rat.
abstract: The effect of a melatonin-free pineal extract on sialic and ascorbic acid, nucleic acids (DNA RNA), proteins, total, free and esterified cholesterol in the rat testis under basal conditions and after stimulation with HCG was followed up. The pineal extract induced a decrease in sialic and ascorbic acid, total and esterified cholesterol, but it increased the proteins and RNA after 3 days of treatment, under basal conditions. The decrease in RNA and proteins was noticed after 30 days of treatment. Administration of HCG increased the sialic and ascorbic acids and decreased the total and esterified cholesterol, proteins and DNA without affecting RNA and free cholesterol in the testicular tissue. Concomitant administration of HCG and pineal extract showed that the pineal treatment corrected partially and sometimes completely the increasing or decreasing effect produced by HCG on the biochemical indices studied. The decrease in testicular esterified cholesterol the latter associated with androgen hormone synthesis, brings into discussion the role of the pineal gland in testicular testosteronogenesis, as the same pineal extract also caused a decrease in testosterone. The authors also discuss the regulating role of the pineal gland on some testicular biochemical indices.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Damian
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ianăs
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bădescu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism; D002788:Cholesterol Esters / Q000378:metabolism; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D019158:N-Acetylneuraminic Acid; D010870:Pineal Gland; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D012313:RNA / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D012794:Sialic Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D013268:Stimulation, Chemical; D013737:Testis / Q000378:metabolism*; D014020:Tissue Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D002788:Cholesterol Esters; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D011506:Proteins; D012794:Sialic Acids; D014020:Tissue Extracts; D012313:RNA; D004247:DNA; D002784:Cholesterol; D019158:N-Acetylneuraminic Acid; D001205:Ascorbic Acid