EFFECTS OF PROLACTIN AND LUTEINIZING HORMONE ON THE CHOLESTEROL STORES IN THE MOUSE TESTIS

Abstract

SUMMARY In intact adult male mice three injections, 2 h apart, of 3 μg luteinizing hormone (LH), 15 μg LH or 100 μg follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) decreased the concentration of esterified cholesterol in the testes. Treatment with 35 μg testosterone propionate (TP)/day or 4 mg aminoglutethimide/day increased the concentration of esterified cholesterol. Single heterotopic pituitary homografts increased the concentration of esterified cholesterol; injecting 7·5 i.u. prolactin twice daily had similar effect. The concentration of free cholesterol showed little individual variation and little or no response to any of the above treatments. The concentration of testicular total cholesterol was increased in hypophysectomized mice. Administration of 10 μg LH or 50 μg TP daily for 28 days reduced the concentration of both esterified and free cholesterol in these animals to approximately the levels found in intact adult males. Prolactin (12 i.u./day) given alone or with TP had no effect, but it increased the concentration of esterified cholesterol in LH-treated animals. It is concluded that in the mouse testis the concentration of esterified, but not free, cholesterol tends to fluctuate with the apparent changes in the rate of androgen synthesis and that prolactin promotes accumulation of cholesterol esters. This could explain the synergism between prolactin and LH in stimulating spermatogenesis and the growth of androgen dependent tissues.