Studies on the Effect of Corticosterone Treatment on Testicular Activity, Serum Concentration of Gonadotrophins, Testosterone and α2u-Globulin in Rats Pre-Treated with Estrogen

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Abstract
Adult male rats were treated with estradiol-17.beta. (50 .mu.g/100 g body wt/day) for 7 days. When the animals were killed 14 days later, the levels of serum gonadotropins, testosterone and .alpha.2u-Globulin as well as the weight of sex organs were reduced, testicular 17.beta.-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17.beta.-HSD) activity was also suppressed; spermatogenesis was inhibited. Administration of corticosterone (2 mg/day) for 14 days to estrogen-treated rats increased the concentration of gonadotropins, testosterone and .alpha.2u-globulin in the serum. The weight of accessory sex organs and spermatogenesis appeared to be normal while 17.beta.-HSD activity increased in estrogen-treated rats after treatment with corticosterone. Corticosterone affects testicular function by inducing .alpha.2u-globulin and gonadotropins in estrogen treated rats.