Testosterone supplementation attenuates the antifertility effects of an LHRH agonist in male rhesus monkeys

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Abstract
Continuous administration of LHRH agonists in high doses disrupts pituitary and testicular function, thus providing an approach to male fertility control. However, testosterone supplementation is required to prevent the side effects associated with low androgen concentrations resulting from chronic LHRH agonist treatment. Three adult male rhesus monkeys were treated with the LHRH agonist, Buserelin, using osmotic minipumps implanted s.c. Testosterone was administered simultaneously via Silastic capsules. This combined treatment led to a marked decrease in testicular volume, and all animals were oligospermic within 8-15 wk of treatment. Azoospermia was, however, not achieved even after 22 wk of treatment although in a previous study in which the LHRH agonist had been administered alone, azoospermia had been achieved after 8-10 wk. In this primate species testosterone supplementation apparently attenuates the suppressive effects of LHRH agonist infusion on spermatogenesis.