Influence of Gonadal and Adrenal Cortical Hormones on Estrogen-Induced Depletion of Pituitary Gonadotropin Content

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Abstract
The FSH content of male rat pituitaries was reduced by doses of estradiol ranging from 0.004 to 0.4 mg/kg/day. Concurrent injections of testosterone or its propionic acid ester prevented the estradiol-induced depletion of FSH to an extent proportional to the size of the dose of the androgen and to the degree of androgenic effects on the sex accessory organs. Pregnant mare serum gonadotropins (PMS) at 50 RU/kg/day also prevented the depletion of FSH brought about by estradiol. Progesterone produced a significant reversal of the estradiol effect on pituitary FSH content, but this gonadal steroid was considerably less effective than testosterone. The effective dose of progesterone, 20 mg/kg, brought about slight ventral prostate growth in the estrogenized males. Desoxycorticosterone acetate and cortisone acetate were inactive at daily dose levels up to 20 mg/kg. Additionally, testosterone propionate, restored in part the FSH content of pituitaries of rats given daily injections of estradiol started 2 weeks before and continued during the androgen treatment period. These data suggest that an interplay of gonadal hormone action occurs at the pituitary level.