PLASMA TESTOSTERONE AND ACCESSORY SEX GLANDS IN NORMAL AND CRYPTORCHID RATS

1972 ◽  
Vol 54 (2) ◽  
pp. 285-296 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. J. LLOYD
Keyword(s):  
Prostate Gland ◽  
Seminal Vesicles ◽  
Ventral Prostate ◽  
Plasma Testosterone ◽  
Progressive Decline ◽  
Testosterone Levels ◽  
Accessory Sex Glands ◽  
Gland Weight ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Fischer Rats

SUMMARY Plasma testosterone concentration and the weights of the seminal vesicles and ventral prostate gland were measured in normal and cryptorchid Fischer rats at 3, 4·5, 7·5 and 13·5 months of age, and in normal parabionts and cryptorchid parabionts of 13·5 months of age. Testosterone was measured individually by a protein-binding method. In normal rats, all parameters rose to a maximum at 7·5 months of age, then levelled off or declined at 13·5 months of age. In cryptorchid rats, a similar pattern at a lower level was found for accessory sex gland weight, but plasma testosterone levels showed a progressive decline from an above normal level at 3 months to a subnormal level at 13·5 months of age. Cryptorchid parabionts were less responsive to gonadotrophin stimulation from union with a castrated partner than normal parabionts. The present study showed that plasma testosterone levels in normal and cryptorchid rats are age-related. It also showed that the pattern of plasma testosterone levels observed in cryptorchid rats is different from that seen in normal rats. Accessory sex gland weight is also age-related but is not a reliable index of plasma testosterone levels.

Dose and time effects of treatment with low doses of a LRH agonist on testicular axis and accessory sex organs in rats

1986 ◽  
Vol 112 (4) ◽  
pp. 595-602 ◽  
Author(s):  
Th. Lemarchand-Béraud ◽  
V. Jaussan ◽  
M. G. Zürich
Keyword(s):  
Androgen Receptors ◽  
Seminal Vesicles ◽  
Ventral Prostate ◽  
Short Exposure ◽  
Prolonged Treatment ◽  
Plasma Testosterone ◽  
Low Doses ◽  
Inhibitory Effects ◽  
Testosterone Levels ◽  
Accessory Sex Organs

Abstract. LRH and its agonists have been shown to exert both stimulatory and inhibitory effects on testicular function. In the present study, the dose and length of treatment were tested to determine the appearance of the stimulatory and inhibitory effects of LRH agonist on testicular axis including the three levels. Two doses of an agonist of LRH, 40 and 100 ng/100 g body weight (buserelin, 'agonist'), were administered daily for 1 to 15 days to adult male rats. Control rats received the vehicle only. On day 1, 2, 4, 8 and 15 of treatment, the pituitary, testicular and peripheral levels (weight of accessory sex organs and androgen receptors in ventral prostate) were tested 6 h after the last injection. For the 15 days of treatment with both doses, a stimulatory effect of the 'agonist' was observed on LH and FSH release. A short exposure (1–2 days) to the low dose of the 'agonist' had a stimulatory effect on the density of LH/hCG testicular receptors (326 ± 49 vs control 185 ± 2 1 fmol/mg protein, mean ± sem), on the weights of seminal vesicles and ventral prostate and exposure to both doses led to high plasma testosterone levels (13.8 ± 0.5 and 13.7 ± 0.7 ng/ml, respectively, vs control 2.6 ± 0.3 ng/ml), and to an increased density of nuclear androgen receptors in the ventral prostate (142 ± 9 and 144 ± 15 fmol/mg protein respectively vs control 97 ± 12 fmol/mg protein). A prolonged exposure (4–15 days) to both doses of the 'agonist' had a time-dependent inhibitory effect on the density of LH/hCG testicular receptors, the weight of testes, seminal vesicles and ventral prostate. It had no effects on plasma testosterone levels and on the density of nuclear ardrogen receptors in the ventral prostate. These data show that exposure to low doses of the 'agonist' for a short time leads to a stimulatory effect on the pituitary testicular axis in the adult rat, whereas a more prolonged treatment results into a partial inhibition of this axis affecting first the testicular level then the peripheral level but without decreasing the density of androgen receptors in the ventral prostate.

scholarly journals Age-Related Alterations in Pituitary and Testicular Functions in Long-Lived Growth Hormone Receptor Gene-Disrupted Mice

Endocrinology ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 148 (12) ◽  
pp. 6019-6025 ◽  
Author(s):  
Varadaraj Chandrashekar ◽  
Christina R. Dawson ◽  
Eric R. Martin ◽  
Juliana S. Rocha ◽  
Andrzej Bartke ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Growth Hormone Receptor ◽  
Receptor Gene ◽  
Delayed Puberty ◽  
Plasma Testosterone ◽  
Mrna Levels ◽  
Testosterone Levels ◽  
Gh Receptor ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Igf I ◽  
Plasma Prl

The somatotropic axis, GH, and IGF-I interact with the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis in health and disease. GH-resistant GH receptor-disrupted knockout (GHRKO) male mice are fertile but exhibit delayed puberty and decreases in plasma FSH levels, testicular content of LH, and prolactin (PRL) receptors, whereas PRL levels are elevated. Because the lifespan of GHRKO mice is much greater than the lifespan of their normal siblings, it was of interest to compare age-related changes in the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis in GHRKO and normal animals. Plasma IGF-I, insulin, PRL, LH, FSH, androstenedione and testosterone levels, and acute responses to GnRH and LH were measured in young (2–4 and 5–6 months of age) and old (18–19 and 23–26 months of age) male GHRKO mice and their normal siblings. Plasma IGF-I was not detectable in GHRKO mice. Plasma PRL levels increased with age in normal mice but declined in GHRKO males, and did not differ in old GHRKO and normal animals. Plasma LH responses to acute GnRH stimulation were attenuated in GHRKO mice but increased with age only in normal mice. Plasma FSH levels were decreased in GHRKO mice regardless of age. Plasma testosterone responses to LH stimulation were attenuated in old mice regardless of genotype, whereas plasma androstenedione responses were reduced with age only in GHRKO mice. Testicular IGF-I mRNA levels were normal in young and increased in old GHRKO mice, whereas testicular concentrations and total IGF-I levels were decreased in these animals. These findings indicate that GH resistance due to targeted disruption of the GH receptor gene in mice leads to suppression of testicular IGF-I levels, and modifies the effects of aging on plasma PRL levels and responses of the pituitary and testes to GnRH and LH stimulation. Plasma testosterone levels declined during aging in normal but not in GHRKO mice, and the age-related increase in the LH responses to exogenous GnRH was absent in GHRKO mice, perhaps reflecting a delay of aging in these remarkably long-lived animals.

[3H]thymidine uptake by the epididymis, seminal vesicles and prostate gland during postnatal development of the rat

1991 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 313 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Sujarit ◽  
RC Jones
Keyword(s):  
Postnatal Development ◽  
Similar Pattern ◽  
Initial Segment ◽  
Prostate Gland ◽  
Seminal Vesicles ◽  
Ventral Prostate ◽  
Thymidine Uptake ◽  
Low Levels ◽  
Cauda Epididymidis

The uptake of [3H]thymidine by the epididymis, ventral prostate gland and seminal vesicles was determined in vivo for rats aged 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 45 and 55 days. The pattern of uptake varied considerably between organs and generally was different from patterns of growth measured as mass or ratio of mass of DNA:tissue. The 'initial segment' of the epididymis and caput and corpus epididymidis showed a similar pattern of [3H]thymidine uptake, being greatest in 15-day-old animals and declining thereafter. On Day 15 the cauda epididymidis had a lower uptake than more proximal regions of the epididymis, but it subsequently showed two significant peaks of increased uptake on Days 25-30 and Day 45. The uptake by the seminal vesicles was high on Day 15, fell to low levels on Day 20, increased considerably from Days 20 to 35, then gradually decreased from Day 35 to 55. The uptake by the prostate gland was a little lower than by the seminal vesicles on Days 15 and 20, then reduced to about the same level as non-reproductive tissues.

EFFECTS OF FOLLICLE-STIMULATING HORMONE AND LUTEINIZING HORMONE ON PLASMA TESTOSTERONE LEVELS IN HYPOPHYSECTOMIZED AND IN INTACT IMMATURE AND ADULT MALE RATS

1974 ◽  
Vol 61 (2) ◽  
pp. 193-198 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. EL SAFOURY ◽  
A. BARTKE
Keyword(s):  
Luteinizing Hormone ◽  
Adult Male ◽  
Follicle Stimulating Hormone ◽  
Seminal Vesicles ◽  
Male Rats ◽  
Plasma Testosterone ◽  
Adult Rats ◽  
Testosterone Levels ◽  
Hypophysectomized Rats ◽  
Stimulating Hormone

SUMMARY The effects of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) on plasma testosterone levels were examined in hypophysectomized and in intact immature and adult male rats. The animals were injected with saline, LH, FSH, or both gonadotrophins twice daily for 3·5 days and were killed 3 h after the last injection. Plasma testosterone levels were measured by radioimmunoassay. In immature hypophysectomized rats, plasma testosterone levels were not changed by treatment with LH, FSH or LH plus FSH. The weight of the testes and of the seminal vesicles was increased only in animals injected with both LH and FSH. In adult hypophysectomized rats, LH caused the expected increase in plasma testosterone levels, while FSH injected alone had no effect. Plasma testosterone levels in rats treated with 5 μg LH and 20 μg FSH were significantly greater than those in animals given 5 μg LH alone. However, the same dose of FSH did not potentiate the action of 25 μg LH on plasma testosterone levels. In adult hypophysectomized rats the weight of testes was not affected by any of the treatments. The weight of the seminal vesicles was increased by the higher dose of LH and addition of FSH caused no further increase. In intact immature and adult rats plasma testosterone levels and the weight of testes were not changed by any of the treatments. Seminal vesicle weight was increased only in adult rats treated with the higher dose of LH together with FSH. The results demonstrate that FSH potentiates the action of low doses of LH on plasma testosterone levels in adult hypophysectomized rats and suggest that FSH may be involved in the regulation of androgen secretion by the rat testis.

INFLUENCE OF THE ADRENAL GLAND ON PROSTATIC ACTIVITY IN ADULT RATS

1973 ◽  
Vol 59 (2) ◽  
pp. 335-344 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. G. MOBBS ◽  
I. E. JOHNSON ◽  
J. G. CONNOLLY
Keyword(s):  
Nucleic Acid ◽  
Adrenal Gland ◽  
Acid Content ◽  
Prostate Gland ◽  
Ventral Prostate ◽  
Nucleic Acid Content ◽  
Adult Rats ◽  
Intact Control ◽  
Accessory Sex Glands ◽  
Target Organs

SUMMARY The weight of the accessory sex glands, and the citrate and nucleic acid content of the ventral prostate (VP) glands, were examined in animals which had been adrenalectomized 30 days previously and in intact control rats. Adrenalectomy greatly reduced the citrate content, but did not affect the nucleic acid content of the VP. It was concluded that the adrenals stimulated prostatic function rather than growth. The concentration of radioactivity in the accessory sex glands of adrenalectomized and/or castrated animals after the injection of [3H]testosterone was compared with that in sham-operated controls. Radioactivity was related to the DNA content of the VP of the four groups. It was concluded that adrenalectomy facilitated the uptake and/or retention of androgen. [3H]Corticosterone was not retained by any of the accessory sex glands of animals adrenalectomized and castrated 2 days previously. It seems unlikely that the glands should be considered 'target organs' for corticosterone in the accepted sense of the term, but it is suggested that corticosteroids may help to maintain the balance between differentiation and growth in the VP by influencing the metabolism of androgens by the prostate gland.

Effects of hyperprolactinaemia on reproduction in male mice

1985 ◽  
Vol 107 (1) ◽  
pp. 71-76 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Nonomura ◽  
K. Hoshino ◽  
T. Harigaya ◽  
H. Hashimoto ◽  
O. Yoshida
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Dimorphism ◽  
Biological Effects ◽  
Ventral Prostate ◽  
Plasma Testosterone ◽  
Male Mice ◽  
Electron Microscopic ◽  
Accessory Sex Glands ◽  
C3h Mice ◽  
C57bl Mice ◽  
Large Spherical

ABSTRACT Hyperprolactinaemia induced by pituitary isografts in male host mice was confirmed by radioimmunoassay, but plasma testosterone levels determined by radioimmunoassay in these mice showed no changes. Immunoenzyme electron microscopic observations revealed large spherical-shaped immunoreactive prolactin granules in pituitary grafts in male hosts, regardless of the sex of the donor mice, indicating the disappearance of sexual dimorphism in prolactin-producing cells in hyperprolactinaemic mice. In hyperprolactinaemic host mice the male accessory sex glands, particularly the seminal vesicle and the ventral prostate, exhibited considerable proliferation and significant increase in weight. These phenomena do not seem to be mediated by the increased action of testosterone. Such biological effects in host mice were much greater when the donor was female rather than male, and were more noticeable in C57BL mice than in C3H mice. J. Endocr. (1985) 107, 71–76

Seasonal and Age-Related Changes in Plasma Testosterone Levels in Mountain White-Crowned Sparrows

The Condor ◽  
1990 ◽  
Vol 92 (1) ◽  
pp. 166-173 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin L. Morton ◽  
Linda E. Peterson ◽  
Douglas M. Burns ◽  
Noella Allan
Keyword(s):  
Plasma Testosterone ◽  
Testosterone Levels ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Age Related Changes

Seasonal changes in the accessory sex glands and gonaducts of male mink

1973 ◽  
Vol 51 (11) ◽  
pp. 1125-1132 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. K. Basrur ◽  
A. S. Ramos
Keyword(s):  
Seasonal Changes ◽  
Prostate Gland ◽  
Functional Anatomy ◽  
Interstitial Cells ◽  
Seminal Vesicles ◽  
Developmental Changes ◽  
Endocrine Activity ◽  
Accessory Sex Glands

The anatomic and developmental changes in the reproductive ducts and accessory sex glands of male mink have been examined at regular intervals during the year. The accessory sex glands noted in mink included a well-developed prostate gland and distinct ampullae while seminal vesicles and bulbourethral glands were absent. The cyclical changes noted in the gross morphology and histology of the duel system, the ampullae, and prostate gland of mink appeared 10 parallel the seasonal changes noted in the testes. It is postulated that the functional anatomy of the gonaducts and accessory sex glands of the adult mink may be causally related to the seasonal changes in the endocrine activity of the interstitial cells of the testis.

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