THE EFFECT OF PREGNENOLONE ON REINITIATION AND MAINTENANCE OF SPERMATOGENESIS IN HYPOPHYSECTOMIZED RATS1

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Abstract
Δ5-Pregnenolone has recently been isolated from hog testicular extract (Haines, Johnson, Goodwin and Kuizenga, 1948). This steroid can maintain spermatogenesis in hypophysectomized rats (Leathern and Brent, 1943) and in estrogen treated rats (Albert and Selye, 1942). However, it is unable to reinitiate spermatogenesis in the atrophic testis following hypophysectomy or estrogen therapy (Masson, 1946). It seemed of interest to determine whether larger dosages or longer treatment periods would reinitiate spermatogenesis in hypophysectomized rats. The effect of pregnenolone on the maintenance of spermatogenesis also was restudied, using small dosages of hormone. Subcutaneous versus oral routes of administration where compared. The effect of small dosages of pregnenolone on testis and accessory sex glands of normal rats was also studied. methods Adult male rats of the Long-Evans strain were hypophysectomized and 20 days later received daily subcutaneous injections for 20 days of either 3 mg. or 20 mg. of pregnenolone or 4 mg. of pregnenolone acetate or 3 mg. of testosterone propionate.8