The effect of metabolites of testosterone on the development of fertilizing ability by spermatozoa in the epididymis of castrated hamsters

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Abstract
The effects, of testosterone, 17βT‐hydroxy‐5α‐androstane‐3‐one (5α‐dihydrotestosterone; 5α‐DHT), 5α‐androstane‐3α, 17βT‐diol (3α‐androstanediol; 3α‐diol) and 5α‐androstane‐3βT, 17βT‐diol (3βT‐androstanediol; 3βT‐diol) on the development of fertilizing ability by spermatozoa in the epididymis were compared in castrated hamsters. The left corpus epididymidis was ligated for 14 days in intact and castrated animals to prevent the in‐flow of spermatozoa into the cauda epididymidis and the ductuli efferentes were bilaterally ligated. The fertilization rate of spermatozoa in the left cauda epididymidis of control animals decreased to 71.1% after 14 days whereas that of spermatozoa in the unobstructed right cauda epididymidis remained at the control level of 100%. After castration, 50 μg testosterone, 25 μg 5α‐DHT and only 9 μg 3α‐diol/day were the minimal doses that facilitated normal development of fertilizing ability but 75 μg testosterone, 37.5 μg 5α‐DHT and 12.5 μg 3α‐diol/day were required to maintain sperm survival at the control level. However, 3βT‐diol was ineffective for both sperm maturation and survival.