The effects of androgens and gonadotropins on testicular development in the prepubertal rat.
Treatment of male rat pups from five to 34 days of age with dihydrotestosterone or 5 alpha-androstane-3 alpha, 17 beta-diol, resulted in reduced testicular size at 35 days of age. This appeared to be due to decreased tubular diameters and reduced spermatocyte numbers, especially late pachytene cells in stages X to XIII. In rat pups treated with dihydrotestosterone or 5 alpha-androstane-3 alpha, 17 beta-diol, treatment with luteinizing hormone resulted in some restoration of tubular diameter and spermatocyte numbers. In 5 alpha-androstane-3 alpha, 17 beta-diol treated rat pups partial restoration of testes size resulted from follicle-stimulating hormone treatment, but tubular diameter and spermatocyte numbers were depressed. Single serum samples collected at 35 days of age were analysed for luteinizing and follicle-stimulating hormone concentrations. These data indicated that the effects of administered androgens were due primarily to depression of circulating gonadotropin concentrations but a direct inhibition at the level of the testis could not be ruled out.
D015113:Androstane-3,17-diol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000732:Androstanols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats / Q000502:physiology*; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012715:Sesame Oil / Q000494:pharmacology; D012741:Sexual Maturation; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000187:drug effects; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development
D000732:Androstanols; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone; D015113:Androstane-3,17-diol; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D012715:Sesame Oil; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone