Effect of oestradiol valerate on the rat blood--testis and blood--epididymal barriers to [3H]inulin

Abstract

Micropuncture samples were taken from rats treated with 2.9 mg oestradiol valerate/day for 14 days, sham injected or untreated. Oestradiol valerate treatment reduced testicular weight and serum testosterone concentrations (P less than 0.05), but did not alter the movement of [3H]inulin into seminiferous tubules or those of the cauda epididymidis. [3H]Inulin concentrations in the seminiferous tubule fluids were always less than 8% of blood isotope concentrations, and those in cauda epididymal tubuule fluid were always less than 5% of blood isotope concentrations. It was concluded that the maintenance of the anatomical component of the blood--testis and blood--epididymal barriers (cell--cell tight junctions) is not androgen-dependent.