FSH and testosterone effects in seminiferous tubules of immature hypophysectomized rats

Abstract

The effects of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and testosterone on the development of the cytosolic germ cell adenylate cyclase and germ cell morphology in rats hypophysectomized at 29 days of age were studied. Following hypophysectomy, the adenylate cyclase content fell to marginal levels and germ cell development ceased at the late pachytene stage. Testosterone treatment led to a moderate increase in the cytosolic enzyme content and to progression of spermatid cell development to stages 8–12. FSH treatment with doses of 80–100 micrograms/day restored enzyme content to levels seen in control rats, as well as progression of germ cell development up to stages 15–16, i.e., to the same stages present in age-matched control (sham-operated) rats. The results indicate that in immature rats FSH is essential for spermatid cell maturation as is evidenced by its ability to stimulate the formation of cytosolic germ cell adenylate cyclase to quantitatively normal levels, as well as to stimulate the development of spermatid cells.