DIURNAL CHANGES IN PLASMA TESTOSTERONE AND STUDIES ON PLASMA CORTICOSTEROIDS IN NON-ANAESTHETIZED MALE RHESUS MONKEYS (MACACA MULATTA)

1974 ◽  
Vol 63 (2) ◽  
pp. 325-335 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. P. MICHAEL ◽  
K. D. R. SETCHELL ◽  
T. M. PLANT

SUMMARY The assays of testosterone and corticosteroids in plasma from adult male rhesus monkeys using competitive protein-binding and radioimmunoassay techniques are described. The radioimmunoassay for testosterone was conducted without chromatography and, therefore, additionally estimated 17β-hydroxy-5α-androstan-3-one (dihydrotestosterone). Levels of testosterone in the peripheral plasma of 14 intact male rhesus monkeys showed marked fluctuations over a period of 24 h. Concentrations of testosterone at 22.00 h (1776 ± 814 ( ± s.d.) ng/100 ml) were approximately double those at 08.00 h (858 ± 407 ng/100 ml), 12.00 h (898 ± 316 ng/100 ml) and 16.00 h (784 ± 530 ng/100 ml). Castration resulted in low plasma testosterone levels (85 ± 29 ng/100 ml), and the increases at 22.00 h were no longer observed. In intact males, the 'basal' plasma corticosteroidlevel(08.00 h) was 22·4 ± 6·0 μg/100 ml. Administration of synthetic corticotrophin raised plasma corticosteroid levels without changing plasma testosterone concentration. Because plasma testosterone levels were not related to changes in adrenocortical activity, the noctural rises appear to be due to changes in testicular secretion.

1985 ◽  
Vol 105 (3) ◽  
pp. 423-427 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. A. F. Tresguerres ◽  
L. F. Perez Mendez ◽  
A. Lopez-Calderon ◽  
A. I. Esquifino

ABSTRACT To study the role of testosterone on the regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis, young intact male Wistar rats were given acute (24 h) or chronic (5 days) subcutaneous treatments of 500 μg testosterone propionate (TP) or vehicle alone. Plasma LH, prolactin and testosterone levels were measured both basally and after administration of LH-releasing hormone (LHRH) or human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) by means of specific radioimmunoassay systems using materials supplied by the NIADDK. After acute treatment with TP there was an increase in basal plasma testosterone concentrations and no modification in the hCG response when compared with vehicle-treated animals. No difference could be detected in basal plasma testosterone levels after the chronic treatment, but a significant reduction in the hCG response was observed. Both acute and chronic treatments with TP resulted in a significant decrease of basal plasma LH levels. A reduced LH response to LHRH in acutely treated rats and no response in the chronically treated rats was detected. Plasma prolactin levels showed an increase after both acute and chronic treatments. To evaluate the possible role of the increased plasma prolactin levels on the above modifications during TP treatment, another group of animals was treated with TP and bromocriptine (dopamine agonist) simultaneously to avoid the increase in plasma prolactin levels. In this situation, neither basal plasma LH levels nor the response to LHRH were altered when compared to vehicle-treated rats; a normal testosterone response to hCG stimulation was observed in spite of the high basal plasma testosterone levels. All these observations suggest that increased prolactin levels may exert a modulatory role on the negative feedback effect of testosterone both at the testicular and central levels. J. Endocr. (1985) 105, 423–427


1978 ◽  
Vol 76 (1) ◽  
pp. 67-74 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. M. ROSE ◽  
T. P. GORDON ◽  
I. S. BERNSTEIN

SUMMARY Concentrations of cortisol and testosterone in the plasma of adult male rhesus monkeys living in social groups were determined during a 27-h period. Capture and venipuncture of experienced, conditioned animals did not lead to a fall in the concentration of testosterone in the plasma during the 90 min immediately after removal from the group. Both plasma cortisol and plasma testosterone concentrations showed a significant fall and rise in samples collected every 3 h during a 27-h period, even though there was considerable individual variation. During the autumn breeding season, animals showed higher concentrations of testosterone at both 10.00 and 22.00 h compared with those observed at the same times during the summer. Even though animals demonstrated significant diurnal changes, testosterone samples withdrawn at the same time of day (10.00 h) on consecutive days were significantly correlated with one another (r = 0·65, n = 27, P < 0·01), suggesting the usefulness of sampling once a day to study potential environmental influences on plasma testosterone concentrations.


1971 ◽  
Vol 68 (3) ◽  
pp. 576-584 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. O. Nilsson ◽  
B. Hökfelt

ABSTRACT Metyrapone was administered either orally, 750 mg every four h, in a total of six doses, or intravenously 30 mg per kg body weight as a four h infusion. In three males with normal endocrine functions, metyrapone given orally or intravenously induced a fall in plasma testosterone and an elevation of androstenedione within 2–8 h. When metyrapone was administered to a patient given dexamethasone to suppress endogenous ACTH production, the androstenedione levels did not alter whereas the testosterone levels showed a slight, transient decrease. In two normal females metyrapone administration was followed by a marked increase in plasma androstenedione whereas testosterone showed only a minor, gradual increase. In one male patient with Addison's disease the basal plasma testosterone was normal whereas the level of androstenedione was low. Following metyrapone intravenously, there was a slight suppression of plasma testosterone but no change in the androstenedione concentration. In one patient with primary hypogonadism, two with secondary hypogonadism and two with Klinefelter's syndrome the plasma testosterone was low under basal conditions and did not change following metyrapone. Basal plasma androstenedione was within the range for normal males and increased markedly following metyrapone in all the cases.


1981 ◽  
Vol 96 (2) ◽  
pp. 273-280 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mridula Chowdhury ◽  
Robert Tcholakian ◽  
Emil Steinberger

Abstract. It has been suggested that treatment of intact male rats with oestradiol benzoate (OeB) causes an interference with testosterone (T) production by the testes by a direct inhibitory effect on steroidogenesis. To test this hypothesis, different doses (5, 10 or 25 IU) of hCG were administered concomitantly with 50 μg of OeB to adult intact or hypophysectomized male rats. The testicular and plasma testosterone, and serum hCG levels were determined. The sex accessory weights were recorded. In the intact OeB-treated group of animals, hCG stimulated both the secondary sex organs and plasma testosterone levels above the intact control group. However, in hypophysectomized animals, although plasma testosterone levels increased above that of intact controls, their secondary sex organ weights did not. Moreover, inspite of high circulating hCG levels, the testicular testosterone content and concentration remained suppressed in OeB-treated animals. The reason for such dichotomy of hCG action on OeB-treated animals is not clear at present.


1971 ◽  
Vol 50 (3) ◽  
pp. 457-466 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. B. KATONGOLE ◽  
F. NAFTOLIN ◽  
R. V. SHORT

SUMMARY Luteinizing hormone (LH) and testosterone were measured in the peripheral plasma of two bulls by radioimmunoassay and competitive protein binding techniques. Samples were collected from an indwelling jugular catheter once an hour for 24 h, and then at more frequent intervals after a number of experimental procedures. Each bull showed its own characteristic pattern of cyclic LH changes, with 5–10 peaks during 24 h that were apparently unrelated to daylight, feeding or sleep. Each LH peak was associated with a testosterone peak; the LH concentrations ranged from 5 to 50 ng/ml, and those of testosterone from 2 to 20 ng/ml. Sexual stimulation, such as the sight of a cow, or 'teasing', or on one occasion the act of ejaculation itself, caused an immediate release of a large amount of LH. If the testosterone levels were low at the time, the LH peak was followed by a testosterone peak. But when the testosterone levels were high at the time of LH discharge, the testis seemed to be unable to respond any further. An intravenous injection of 500 i.u. human chorionic gonadotrophin was associated with LH release and caused the testosterone levels to rise to maximal values of 22 ng/ml within 1½ h. It is concluded that the cyclical pattern of LH release is due to some inherent central rhythm, and that each transient LH peak results in transient maximal stimulation of testicular testosterone secretion.


1991 ◽  
Vol 6 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 185-191 ◽  
Author(s):  
P.S.P. Gupta ◽  
P.C. Sanwal ◽  
V.P. Varshney

1974 ◽  
Vol 60 (3) ◽  
pp. 429-439 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. PURVIS ◽  
N. B. HAYNES

SUMMARY Peripheral plasma testosterone levels in the male rat were increased above control levels 5 min after the first intromission with an oestrous female, or 8–10 min after first contact with the female. The levels remained raised for at least 30 min if copulation was allowed to continue. Intravenous injection of human chorionic gonadotrophin resulted in an increased peripheral concentration of plasma testosterone after 10–15 min and an increase of testosterone content of the testis 5–10 min after injection, indicating that the rat testis has a potential to respond rapidly to gonadotrophin. The results suggested that if the testosterone surge during copulation was gonadotrophin-dependent, it was initiated before the first intromission. Indeed, plasma testosterone levels were raised in male rats 5 min after being placed in the proximity of oestrous females but not allowed physical contact.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document