Effects of an LH-RH analogue in male rats pretreated with oestradiol benzoate

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Abstract
Treatment of adult male rats with estradiol benzoate (EB) for 21 days significantly decreased the body, testicular and accessory sex organ weight but increased anterior pituitary weight. EB treatment also significantly suppressed circulating FSH [follitropin] and LH [lutropin] levels as well as plasma and testicular concentrations of testosterone. The seminiferous tubules and interstitial cells were partly atrophied, and there was some effect on spermatogenesis, with step 14 to 19 spermatids being fewer than normal. Rats treated with EB for 21 days were then treated daily with LH-RH [luliberin] analog ({D-Leu6-, des-Gly-NH210}-LH-RH-ethylamide), to see if testicular function could be recovered. Circulating gonadotropins were significantly elevated, testicular histology was normal and testicular and plasma testosterone concentrations and the accessory sex organ weight remained suppressed. These results suggest possible extra-pituitary effects of the LH-RH analog, including a direct action on the testes and/or accessory sex organs.