Abstract
In the hamster testicular atrophy can be reversed by ectopic pituitary grafts but effects of this treatment on fertility have not been examined. Adult male hamsters were transferred from a long (14 h of light: 10 h of darkness) to a short photoperiod (5 h of light: 19 h of darkness) to induce atrophy of the testes. Two months later, the animals were given transplants of one or two pituitaries from adult females under the kidney capsule, were sham‐operated, or left untreated. After an additional 2 months, all of 7 animals given one graft and 2 of 5 animals given two grafts were fertile while none of 10 control males sired litters. At autopsy, the concentration of testosterone in the plasma and the weights of the testes and the seminal vesicles were significantly higher in grafted than in control animals. Plasma FSH levels were increased only in animals given two transplants, while plasma LH levels were not affected by either of the treatments. Restoration of fertility by pituitary transplants was most likely due to increase in peripheral PRL concentration and in testicular LH receptor levels.
Original language | English (US) |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 257-262 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | International Journal of Andrology |
Volume | 2 |
Issue number | 1-6 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Dec 1979 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- gonadotropins
- photoperiod
- pituitary grafts
- prolactin
- seasonal breeding
- testes
- testosterone
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
- Reproductive Medicine
- Urology