REVERSIBLE INHIBITORY EFFECT OF NON-STEROIDAL ANTI-ANDROGEN FLUTAMIDE (SCH 13521) ON SPERMATOGENESIS IN MICE

  • 1 January 1978
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 71  (2) , 135-142
Abstract
The effects of a prolonged s.c. administration of SCH 13521 dissolved in 0.3% hydroxypropyl cellulose (2-8 wk in daily doses of 0.2 or 1.0 mg; the estimated equivalent of experimental and curative doese used for laboratory animals and men) were studied in males of the mouse inbred strain C57BL/6. Following the treatment, the activity of spermatogenesis (expressed as the mean number of seminiferous tubules containing mature sperm and epididymal sperm count) was inhibited while the testis weight was not reduced, due to an absolute increase of the interstitial tissue which was a marked histological feature of the testes, particularly following the higher doses of SCH 13521. Lower doses and shorter-lasting administration of the compound inhibited the activity more effectively. After a prolonged administration reparatory processes tend to be triggered via a stimulatory effect on the synthesis of testosterone in Leydig cells. The solvent alone, hydroxypropyl cellulose, had some inhibitory effect on spermatogenesis. The lymphoid system remained both morphologically and functionally unaffected by SCH 13521 unlike the steroidal antiandrogen cyproterone actetate.