title: Estradiol enhances the stimulatory effect of FSH on testicular maturation and contributes to precocious initiation of spermatogenesis.
abstract: Male rats were daily injected with human FSH (hFSH) or estradiol benzoate (EB) or hFSH+EB between day 5 and 15 of life and autopsied on day 16. hFSH accelerated testicular growth, increased number of spermatogonia and serum level of testosterone. hFSH stimulated also spermatogonia differentiation, which resulted in 5-fold increase of the number of spermatocytes. EB given alone induced adverse, inhibitory effects on spermatogenesis and serum testosterone, did not influence serum FSH and LH but increased 14-fold the level of prolactin. Except from testosterone, EB given with hFSH not only overcame inhibitions, but multiplied hFSH stimulatory effects on spermatogenesis up to 30-times of control values. In addition, after FSH+EB premeiotic germ cell ratio reached adult type value precociously. Estradiol may play regulatory roles in testicular maturation (1) inhibitory, direct one or resulting from decrease in testosterone secretion; (2) stimulatory, by enhancement of FSH action, with a possible involvement of prolactin that may act in concert with FSH.
authors.affiliation: Department of Andrology and Reproductive Endocrinology, Institute of Endocrinology, Medical University of Lódz, Sterling str. 5, 91-425, Lódz, Poland. andkk@psk2.am.lodz.pl
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kula
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Walczak-Jedrzejowska
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Słowikowska-Hilczer
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Oszukowska
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004357:Drug Synergism; D004958:Estradiol / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012671:Seminiferous Tubules / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D012708:Sertoli Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D012741:Sexual Maturation / Q000187:drug effects; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D013739:Testosterone; D004958:Estradiol; D011388:Prolactin; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone