Role of testosterone levels and of hypophysis in the HCG-induced modifications of the 7 alpha-hydroxylation and 5 alpha-reduction processes in incubated rat testes.
The role of a direct or a hypophysis-mediated influence of increased testosterone levels in the effects of a long-term high-dose HCG administration (10 IU/day) upon the 7 alpha-hydroxylation and 5 alpha-reduction activities of incubated testes of mature rats was investigated. Administration of high doses of HCG to hypophysectomized rats resulted in the same metabolic changes as in normal rats, namely, a large decrease in the 7 alpha-hydroxylation and an increase in the 5 alpha-reduction processes. Administration of testosterone-propionate (0.2 mg and 20 mg/day) for several days to hypophysectomized rats and to normal rats receiving and substitutive dose of 1 IU HCG/day, did not modify the testicular metabolization pattern. These findings indicate that the decrease in testicular 7 alpha-hydroxylation activity induced by long-term administration of high doses of HCG is probably not mediated by the hypophysis nor by the extracellular testosterone levels.
D000728:Androgens / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006900:Hydroxylation; D007016:Hypophysectomy; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000494:pharmacology*
D000728:Androgens; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D013739:Testosterone