Restoration of testicular transferrin, insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), and spermatogenesis by exogenously administered purified FSH and testosterone in medically hypophysectomized rats.
To investigate the relation between testicular transferrin and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) secreted by Sertoli cells and the differentiation of germ cells in the rat, testosterone and/or purified FSH was administered to rats medically hypophysectomized by an LH-RH agonist. Spermatogenesis was quantitatively analyzed and concentrations of intratesticular transferrin and IGF-1 were measured by radioimmunoassays. The last step of spermatogenesis was quantitatively restored by combined administration of testosterone and purified FSH. Intratesticular IGF-1 concentrations were significantly increased by combined administration of testosterone and purified FSH. From these observations, it is surmised that IGF-1 may have a stimulatory effect on the last step of spermatogenesis.
Department of Urology, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, Japan.
N
N
Itoh
A
A
Nanbu
H
H
Tachiki
K
K
Akagashi
T
T
Nitta
N
N
Mikuma
T
T
Tsukamoto
Y
Y
Kumamoto
D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007016:Hypophysectomy; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000166:cytology; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D013739:Testosterone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014168:Transferrin / Q000378:metabolism*
D014168:Transferrin; D013739:Testosterone; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone