Influence of age on the production of rat spermatozoa, on their concentration in the cauda epididymidis, and on FSH, LH and testosterone plasma levels.
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.
Carvalho
T L
TL
Department of Stomatology, Faculty of Dentistry of Ribeirao Preto, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Favaretto
A L
AL
Komesu
M C
MC
Lopes
R A
RA
Petenusci
S O
SO
Silva-Netto
C R
CR
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
D013739:Testosterone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone