title: Effects on growth and body composition of androgen deprivation by castration or autoimmunization to LH-releasing hormone in the male rat under conditions of controlled food intake.
abstract: The effects of endogenous gonadal hormones on the regulation of body composition and energy retention have been investigated under conditions of controlled food intake. Male and female rats were fed the same amount from weaning to 82 days of age. The carcases of males contained more protein, less lipid and yielded more ash than females, but they had the same amount of total energy in their carcases as females. In a second experiment, male rats were sham-operated or castrated at 19 days and then fed equal amounts from weaning. At 40 days, intact and castrated rats did not differ in total carcase energy content nor in carcase composition. At 82 days the carcases of intact rats had more protein but had retained the same amount of energy as castrated rats. By 131 days, the difference in protein content was larger and intact rats had less carcase lipid, less carcase energy and gave less ash than castrated rats. At the same age and with a similar food intake, the differences in carcase composition between intact males and females were considerably larger than between intact and castrated males. In a third experiment, male rats were sham-operated or castrated at 1 day post partum and fed the same amount as in the second experiment from weaning to 82 days. Both sham-castrated and castrated rats grew less well than rats operated on at 19 days. The differences in carcase composition between intact and castrated rats were in the same direction but of greater magnitude than in rats operated at the later age.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
mesh_terms: D000728:Androgens / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology; D001823:Body Composition; D004032:Diet; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D005260:Female; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000276:immunology; D006128:Growth; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008297:Male; D009919:Orchiectomy; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens; D001323:Autoantibodies; D011506:Proteins; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone