EFFECTS OF ANDROGENIC SUBSTANCES IN HYPOPHYSECTOMIZED RATS

Abstract

Dihydroandroslerone, androsterone, and testosterone were injected into hypophysectomized rats for 18 days. All 3 substances at the dose levels employed caused varying degrees of maintenance of the accessory sexual organs, but only androsterone and testosterone prevented to a large extent atrophy of the testis tubules. Degeneration of the interstitial cells was not arrested by any of these substances. Evidence was adduced that: scrotal function was maintained by the [male] sex hormone; proper scrotal function was indispensable to spermatogenesis; spermatogenesis in the rat was to a certain extent independent of any direct recognized hormonal stimulation. These results indicated the need of caution in the interpretation of apparently purely gametokinetic effects in the [male] rat.