Effects of Alleles at the W Locus on Testicular Luteinizing Hormone Receptors in Adult Mice

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Abstract
The autoregulation of testicular LH [luteinizing hormone] receptors was studied in Wx/Wv mice with germ cell aplasia and in normal (.+-./.+-.) mice. To assess the effects of each individual allele, Wx/.+-. and Wv/.+-. mice were also examined. Basal testicular LH receptor concentration was higher in Wx/Wv mice than in all other genotypes, and higher in Wx/.+-. than in .+-./.+-. mice. Twenty-four h after injection of 0.3 IU hCG [human chorionic gonadotropin]/g bw [body wt], LH receptor concentration was decreased in .+-./.+-. and Wv/.+-. mice, but not in Wx/Wv or Wx/.+-. animals. Administration of hCG caused a significant increase in plasma testosterone levels in all genotypes. Injection of the highest dose of hCG used (0.9 IU/g bw) caused a significantly greater elevation in plasma testosterone in Wx/Wv than in .+-./.+-. mice. Plasma gonadotropin levels were significantly higher in Wx/Wv mice than in all other genotypes. Evidently the Wx allele is responsible for the changes in testicular function observed in Wx/Wv mice. This allele may be involved in the genetic regulation of testicular LH receptors in the mouse.