title: Suppression of testicular steroidogenesis in rats by the organochlorine insecticide Aldrin.
abstract: Treatment with Aldrin, an organochlorine insecticide, for 13 and 26 days caused suppression of 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3beta-HSD) and 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17beta-HSD) activities, along with accumulation of cholesterol in the testicular tissues of adult rats. The same treatment also resulted in a reduction in the nuclear diameter of Leydig cells (LCND) and diameter of seminiferous tubules. A decrease in the weight of testes, seminal vesicles and ventral prostate was also noted. HCG administration in the long-term (26 days) treatment restored the steroidogenic enzymes activity and the nuclear diameter of the Leydig cells. It also reduced the accumulation of tissue cholesterol towards the vehicle-injected controls. The inhibition of steroidogenesis in the testes possibly reflects a decrease in pituitary gonadotrophin release after the treatment with Aldrin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, University College of Science & Technology, 92 Acharyya Prafulla Chandra Road, Calcutta 700 009, India.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chatterjee
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ray
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bagchi
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Deb