EFFECT OF OVINE GONADOTROPHINS AND ANTISERUM TO INTERSTITIAL CELL-STIMULATING HORMONE ON THE TESTIS OF THE HYPOPHYSECTOMIZED RAT

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Abstract
Rabbit antiserum to ovine ICSH was administered to male Sprague-Dawley rats 2 months after hypophysectomy; further atrophy of the testis ensued. The intersitial tissue, the Sertoli cells, and the germ cells were adversely affected by the treatment. In the absence of gonadotrophins and exogenous andro-gen, spermatogenesis was nearly arrested. Ovine ICSH repaired the interstitial tissue and stimulated mitotic activity among the spermato-gonia. Ovine FSH (NIH-FSH-S-1), containing approximately 1% ICSH activity, stimulated spermatid formation. When antiserum to ICSH was injected together with the FSH, no maturation divisions or sperma-tids were observed. The combination of FSH and ICSH, 100 [mu]g of each/ day injected for a period of 21 days, stimulated extensive and uniform tubular repair and advanced spermiogenesis to the acrosome phase; an enhancement in the secretion of androgen also was effected when FSH was given in combination with ICSH.