title: Reversibility of GnRH agonist-induced inhibition of testicular function: differences between rats and primates.
abstract: In rats, GnRH agonists can induce focal and permanent testicular damage. No such effects have been found in dogs, monkeys and volunteers participating in contraceptive trials. Some of the severe alterations observed in prostatic cancer patients treated with GnRH agonists might be influenced by age and/or disease status. To date no irreversible testicular damage in human and non-human primates, clearly attributable to GnRH agonist treatment has been described. In consequence, the rat appears an unsuitable model for evaluation of the antitesticular effects of GnRH agonists in primates. Thus, non-human primates play an important role in the preclinical evaluation of GnRH analogues.
authors.affiliation: Max Planck Clinical Research Unit for Reproductive Medicine, University of Münster, F.R. Germany.
authors.forename: G F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Weinbauer
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nieschlag
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003272:Contraceptive Agents, Male / Q000494:pharmacology; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D008297:Male; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D011629:Puberty, Precocious / Q000188:drug therapy; D051381:Rats; D013045:Species Specificity; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000187:drug effects; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D003272:Contraceptive Agents, Male; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone