title: Influence of age on the production of rat spermatozoa, on their concentration in the cauda epididymidis, and on FSH, LH and testosterone plasma levels.
abstract: Testis samples were taken from young (3 months), middle-aged (12 months) and aged (24 months) male rats, processed, stained and examined via a light microscope. There were no prominent abnormal germinal epithelium and interstitial tissue. However, the aging process promoted a significant decrease in the mean amount of spermatids 19 per cross tubular section, and in the amount of Sertoli cells per cross tubular section in 24-month-old rats. The concentration of spermatozoa in the cauda epididymidis showed a gradual decrease from 3 to 12 and 24 months. After hCG injection all groups of animals exhibited an increase in plasma testosterone level, although the response was smaller in 12- and 24-month animals compared to the young mature (3 months) ones.
authors.affiliation: Department of Stomatology, Faculty of Dentistry of Ribeirao Preto, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: T L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Favaretto
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Komesu
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Lopes
authors.forename: S O
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Petenusci
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Silva-Netto
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D004822:Epididymis / Q000166:cytology; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013091:Spermatogenesis; D013737:Testis / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D013739:Testosterone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone