EFFECT OF TESTOSTERONE PROPIONATE ON HYPOPHYSIS OF THE NORMAL YOUNG ADULT MALE RAT

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Abstract
Two groups of young mature [male] rats were treated with daily injs. of 0.2 and 0.5 mg. of testosterone propionate, respectively, for a period of 35 days. A group of untreated [male][male] was used as a control. Both types of chromophil cells of the ant. pituitaries of the exptl. animals were affected. The acido-phils were increased in size and were definitely more numerous, indicating a stimulating action of the hormone on the pituitary acidophils. The effect was more marked when a smaller (0.2 mg.) dosage level was administered. Injury to the testis was also more pronounced at the lower dosage level. A greater number of degranulated forms of the basophil than is ordinarily found in normal glandvS was observed in the pituitaries of treated rats, but the basophils were smaller in size and showed no evidence of increased activity. A considerable number of vacuolated basophils (as high as 14% in a group of animals treated at the 0.5 mg. dosage level) was observed. These basophils morphologically closely approximated the so-called thyroidectomy basophils. Unlike the reaction of the eosinophils, all changes found in the basophils were more pronounced at the higher dosage level.