Studies on the effect of corticosterone treatment on testicular activity, serum concentration of gonadotrophins, testosterone and alpha 2 u-globulin in rats pre-treated with estrogen.
Adult male rats were treated with estradiol-17 beta (50 micrograms/100 g body wt./day) for 7 days. When the animals were killed 14 days later, the levels of serum gonadotrophins, testosterone and alpha 2u-Globulin as well as the weight of sex organs were reduced, testicular 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17 beta-HSD) activity was also suppressed; spermatogenesis was inhibited. Administration of corticosterone (2 mg/day) for 14 days to estrogen-treated rats increased the concentration of gonadotrophins, testosterone and alpha 2u-globulin in the serum. The weight of accessory sex organs and spermatogenesis appeared to be normal while 17 beta-HSD activity increased in estrogen-treated rats after treatment with corticosterone. It is concluded that corticosterone has an effect on testicular function by inducing alpha 2u-globulin and gonadotrophins in estrogen treated rats.
D000510:Alpha-Globulins / Q000032:analysis*; D000818:Animals; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004967:Estrogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006062:Gonadotropins / Q000097:blood*; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013076:Sperm Count; D013090:Spermatocytes / Q000166:cytology; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000187:drug effects; D013737:Testis / Q000378:metabolism*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood*
D000510:Alpha-Globulins; D004967:Estrogens; D006062:Gonadotropins; C013803:alpha 2u globulin; D013739:Testosterone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D003345:Corticosterone