title: [Effects of simulated weightlessness on reproduction in male rats].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the effects of tail-suspension on gonad and spermatic hormone in male rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  After tail-suspension and reambulation some times in male rats, weight of testis was measured, sperm of epididymis was inspected, morphology of testicular cell was compared, and antent of testosterone assay by radioimmunoassay ratio of LH-beta positive cell in pituitary was measured by immunohistochemic.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After tail-suspension, weight of testis in male rats decreased significantly. Shape of the convoluted tubules and number of all levels of the spermatocyte in testis atrophied markedly. No sperm was found in the epididymis. Content of testosterone decreased markedly. Number of positive cell of beta-subunit of LH in the pituitary increased markedly.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Tail-suspension has negative effect on sex gland and reproduction function of male rats.
authors.affiliation: College of Biological Science, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Xing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Xiao-ping
authors.initials: XP
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yu-min
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Wan
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.forename: Jian-jin
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ying-hui
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001284:Atrophy; D019417:Hindlimb Suspension; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000502:physiology; D013737:Testis / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000378:metabolism*; D018474:Weightlessness Simulation
chemical_list: D013739:Testosterone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone