Orchidectomy selectively increases follicle-stimulating hormone secretion in gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist-treated male rats.
The pituitary component of the feedback mechanisms exerted by testicular factors on gonadotropin secretion was analyzed in adult male rats treated with a potent gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist. In order to discriminate between androgens and testicular peptides, groups of males were orchidectomized (to eliminate androgens and non-androgenic testicular factors) or injected with ethylene dimethane sulfonate (EDS), a selective toxin for Leydig cells (to eliminate selectively androgens) and treated for 15 days with vehicle or the GnRH antagonist Ac-D-pClPhe-D-pClPhe-D-Trp-Ser-Tyr-D-Arg-Leu-Arg-Pro-D-Ala-+ ++NH2CH3COOH (Org.30276, 5 mg/kg/72 hours). Serum concentrations of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) were measured 7 and 14 days after the beginning of treatment. We found that: in males treated with GnRH antagonist, orchidectomy or EDS treatment did not induce any increase in LH secretion; and orchidectomy, but not EDS treatment, increased FSH secretion in GnRH-treated males. The present results show that negative feedback of testicular factors on LH secretion is mediated completely through changes in GnRH actions. In contrast, a part of the inhibitory action of the testis on FSH secretion is exerted directly at the pituitary level. It can be hypothesized that non-Leydig cell testicular factor(s) inputs at different levels of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis in controlling LH and FSH secretion.
Tena-Sempere
M
M
Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Córdoba, Spain.
Pinilla
L
L
Aguilar
E
E
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000494:pharmacology; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009919:Orchiectomy; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*
D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; C042691:LHRH, N-acetyl-(4-chlorophenylalanyl)(1)-(4-chlorophenylalanyl)(2)-tryptophyl(3)-arginyl(6)-alanine(10)-; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone