EFFECT OF TREATMENT WITH AN AGONIST OF LUTEINIZING HORMONE RELEASING HORMONE ON EARLY MATURATIONAL CHANGES IN PITUITARY AND TESTICULAR FUNCTION IN THE RAT

Abstract

Male rats aged 30 days were injected once daily for between 1 and 7 days with 50 ng (d-serine t-butyl6, des-glycine-NH210) luteinizing hormone releasing hormone ethylamide (LH-RH agonist), and pituitary and testicular function were assessed. Treatment for 7 days significantly (P < 0·02) inhibited maturational increases in the pituitary content and serum concentration of gonadotrophins, testicular luteinizing hormone (LH)-receptor concentration and the testicular capacity to secrete testosterone; the pituitary content and serum concentration of prolactin, the hypothalamic content of LH-RH and testicular weight were unaffected. In rats treated with LH-RH agonist, the initial (2 to 3 days) reduction in testicular LH-receptors and the capacity to secrete testosterone probably resulted from acutely raised levels of LH in the blood, whilst later effects may have resulted from the apparently chronic reduction in serum gonadotrophin levels. The latter may reflect a decrease in pituitary responsiveness to repeated stimulation with LH-RH agonist. Despite the extensive loss of testicular LH-receptors and diminished responsiveness, the concentration of HCG which significantly (P < 0·05) increased testosterone secretion by the testis in vitro was the same (2 pmol/l) as that for testes from control rats.