Orchidectomy selectively increases follicle-stimulating hormone secretion in gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist-treated male rats

Tena-Sempere M, Pinilla L, Aguilar E. Orchidectomy selectively increases follicle-stimulating hormone secretion in gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist-treated male rats. Eur J Endocrinol 1995;132: 357–62. ISSN 0804–4643 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-TrpSer-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. Manuel Tena-Sempere, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Córdoba, 14004 Córdoba, Spain