Relation between circulating levels of testosterone lh and fsh in intact and castrated, adult, male rats after testosterone administration

Abstract

Serum levels of LH, FSH and testosterone were measured by radioimmunoassay in intact and castrated, adult, male rats after testosterone was administered subcutaneously for seven days in doses ranging from 25 to 200 mug per 100 g body weight per day. Such treatment increased circulating testosterone both in intact and castrated rats, but its effects on serum gonadotrophins were different in these animal groups. All doses of testosterone suppressed serum LH and FSH in the normal rat. In the castrates, treatment with the lowest dose of testosterone resulted in serum LH levels significantly above the high castrate levels, while serum FSH tended to drop. Administration of the highest doses of testosterone did not depress serum LH and FSH in the castrates to those of intact, normal animals, though serum testosterone in these castrates was much higher than in normal, male rats. It is concluded, that the sensitivity of the hypothalamic-pituitary system for daily, subcutaneous testosterone administration during seven days is not the same in the intact and castrated, adult, male rat and that testicular factors different from testosterone may play a role in regulating production and/or secretion of gonadotrophins by the hypophysis in male animals.