STUDIES ON THE TESTICULAR AUGMENTATION ASSAY METHOD FOR FOLLICLE STIMULATING HORMONE

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Augmentation of testis weight caused by the follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) was studied in hypophysectomized immature rats treated concomitantly with supramaximal amounts of human chorionlc gonadotrophin (HCG). Using a rat pituitary homogenate, responses were found to increase linearly with the logarithm of the doses given. In assays of rat pituitary homogenate against purified sheep FSH no significant divergence was observed. The effect of a submaximally active dose of FSH was not significantly altered by the concomitant administration of purified growth hormone, thyrotropin, corticotropin, prolactin or luteinizing hormone (LH). Serum from intact male and female rats caused significant growth of the testis, while serum from male animals was more active than that of female rats. However, when serum from hypophysectomized male and female rats was given, some testis growth still occurred in one of the 2 experimental series. In this case, the responses were smaller than those caused by serum from intact males but not smaller than those caused by serum from intact females. No difference in testis growth-promoting effect could be demonstrated between the sera obtained from hypophysectomized male and female rats.