title: Protection from radiation-induced damage to spermatogenesis in the androgen pretreated rat.
abstract: Protection of spermatogenesis from radiation-induced damage has been investigated in the adult Wistar rat. Silastic tubing containing either cholesterol or testosterone was implanted subcutaneously 7 weeks before 4 equal daily fractions of either 1, 1.5, 2, and 2.5 Gy of 230 kVp X-rays locally to the testes. Implants were removed on the day following the last fraction and 8 weeks after irradiation 88.6%, 83.8%, 63.6% and 28.9% tubule cross-sections respectively were found regenerating in rats pretreated with testosterone. In contrast, 68.45%, 58.6%, 38.2% and 17.3% tubule cross-sections regenerating were obtained in rats pretreated with cholesterol. Changes in testis weight however were found to show the reverse trend (i.e. a greater weight loss was observed following androgen pretreatment). These results show that protection of spermatogenesis from fractionated irradiation may be achieved in rat testis by androgen pretreatment.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size / Q000528:radiation effects; D011835:Radiation Protection; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000528:radiation effects*; D013737:Testis / Q000528:radiation effects; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D013739:Testosterone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone