Effect of Fetal Irradiation on Testicular Receptors and Testosterone Response to Gonadotrophin Stimulation in Adult Rats

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Abstract
The amount of [125I]human chorionic gonadotrophin bound by testicular membrane preparations from adult male rats with germinal cell aplasia induced by x‐irradiation in utero was significantly reduced in comparison to that of normal males. The in vivo serum testosterone response to an injection of human chorionic gonadotrophin was significantly decreased in the x‐irradiated rats. Paradoxically, the in vitro maximal secretory response to gonadotrophin stimulation was markedly increased. It is concluded that a decrease in the number of receptors on Leydig cells subjected to chronically elevated serum levels of LH does not limit the capacity of the testis for steroid biosynthesis.