EVIDENCE FOR ANDROGEN PARTICIPATION IN INDUCED OVULATION IN IMMATURE RATS

Abstract

Rabbit antiserum to testosterone injected i.v. together with 10 IU human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) markedly reduced the number of tubal ova in intact or hypophysectomized immature rats primed with 5 IU pregnant mare''s serum gonadotropin. Normal rabbit serum (NRS) injected instead of the antiserum resulted in a normal complement of ovulated ova. Ten .mu.g of testosterone or 5.alpha.-dihydrotestosterone dissolved in NRS administered i.v. 1 h after simultaneous injection of hCG and antiserum to progesterone (anti-P) restored ovulation that would otherwise have been blocked by anti-P, with a comparable number of ova to control animals not given anti-P. The results indicate active participation of androgen in induced ovulation in immature rats.