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Response of the testis to gonadotrophin replacement in young hypophysectomized vs. gonadotrophin‐releasing hormone antagonist‐treated rats
Author(s) -
Gayton F.,
Bellido C.,
Morales C.,
Aguilar E.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
andrologia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.633
H-Index - 59
eISSN - 1439-0272
pISSN - 0303-4569
DOI - 10.1111/j.1439-0272.1997.tb00468.x
Subject(s) - seminiferous tubule , medicine , endocrinology , hypophysectomy , antagonist , gonadotropin releasing hormone , sertoli cell , testicle , leydig cell , spermatogenesis , hormone , hormone antagonist , ant , biology , luteinizing hormone , receptor , ecology
Summary We have studied the response of atrophic Leydig cells to gonadotrophin replacement in young hypophysectomized (HX) and GnRH antagonist (GnRH‐ANT)‐treated rats. Hypophysectomy was performed at 28 days of age. Age‐matched rats were treated with GnRH‐ANT from 28 to 51 days of age. From 45 to 51 days of age, animals were injected with 5IU recFSH, 10 IU hCG or vehicle. Body and testicu‐lar weights, as well as the diameter of the seminiferous tubules were significantly higher in GnRH‐ANT‐treated than in HX rats. Both recombinant FSH and hCG treatments induced a similar increase in testicular weight and tubule diameter in HX and GnRH‐ANT‐treated rats. However, hCG treatment induced a significantly higher increase in Leydig cell size in HX (3.2–fold) than in GnRH‐ANT‐treated (1.4–fold) rats. These results suggest that the response of atrophic Leydig cells to gonadotrophin supplementation was partially inhibited in the presence of GnRH antagonist, whereas Sertoli cell‐mediated responses seem not to be affected.