Effects of Adrenal Androgens on Parabiotic Mice

Abstract

The effects of adrenal androgens on pituitary gonadotrophin activity and seminal vesicle weight were investigated in castrate male and intact female mice made parabiotic at 25 days of age. An increase in ovarian and uterine weight usually occurs with this parabiotic procedure, and inhibition of this increase by androgens was used as an index of suppression of gonadotrophin activity. The following crystalline steroids were given for 10 days in sc injections of 200 μg daily: dehydroisoandrosterone (DHA), 11β- OH-Δ⁴-androstene-3,17-dione (11OH4AD)and testosterone (T). All androgens produced a significant inhibition of ovarian enlargement but only T suppressed uterine weight increase. Study of histologic sections of ovaries revealed: a) an inhibition by DHA and T, as a result of atresia, of the number and size of tertiary follicles, b) an apparent suppression by 110H4AD chiefly of the increase in number of developing follicles. Only T produced a significant stimulation of seminal vesicle weight. The data confirm the previous suggestion that nonvirilizing doses of adrenal androgens can inhibit pituitary gonadotrophins. These androgens may suppress different individual FSH effects and by this action distinguish 2 separate functions which are considered combined biological properties of FSH.