Termination of the peripubertal FSH increase in male rats

Abstract

To determine if the pubertal testosterone rise plays a role in the termination of the peripubertal follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) increase, male rats were injected with ethylene dimethanesulfonate (EDS) at 40 days of age to eradicate the Leydig cells just before the onset of the testosterone rise. Rats were decapitated at weekly intervals from age 26 to 96 days. Compared with vehicle-injected controls, EDS treatment resulted in a delay in the peripubertal increase in the relative weights of prostates and seminal vesicles of approximately 2 wk. Serum testosterone remained at pretreatment levels for 1 wk postinjection. Testicular interstitial fluid testosterone remained at pretreatment concentrations for considerably longer and was significantly lower than controls for 2 wk postinjection. EDS treatment resulted in serum FSH levels that were elevated by 1 wk postinjection. They remained significantly higher than controls until 96 days of age. Compared with controls, serum alpha-inhibin was elevated after EDS as was serum luteinizing hormone. These results suggest that the pubertal testosterone increase plays an important role in terminating the peripubertal FSH rise.