COMPARISON OF EFFECTS OF C19 (ANDROSTENE OR ANDROSTANE) STEROIDS ON SERUM GONADOTROPHIN CONCENTRATIONS AND ON ACCESSORY REPRODUCTIVE ORGAN WEIGHTS IN GONADECTOMIZED, ADULT MALE RATS

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Abstract
The effect of s.c. administration of graded doses of C19 (androstene or androstane) steroids on serum levels of LH [luteinizing hormone] and FSH [follicle stimulating hormone] and on weights of accessory reproductive organs in gonadectomized, adult male rats were investigated. The C19 steroids were administered during 7 days in doses of 100, 50, 25, 12.5 or 6.25 .mu.g/100 g body wt per day. With the amounts of steroids used, 5.alpha.-dihydrotestosterone and 5.alpha.-androstane-3.alpha.,17.beta.-diol had a high potency in preventing the rise of serum gonadotropin concentrations and in curbing the decrease of weights of ventral prostates and seminal vesicles following orchidectomy. 5.alpha.-Androstane-3.beta.,17.beta.-diol showed no such effects. Positive feedback effects on serum gonadotropins in castrates were observed following injection of certain doses of some steroids. Effects of steroids on accessory reproductive organs did not always correlate with those on gonadotropic function of the hypothalamic-pituitary unit.