THE ACTION OF STEROID HORMONES ON THE MATURE DOVE TESTIS

Abstract

Ten daily injs. of DCA, estrone, estradiol benzoate, diethylstilbestrol and prolactin into mature [male] ring doves resulted in very extensive atrophy of germinal tissues. Testes were thus reduced to 14-22% of their pre-treatment wts. The testes of birds treated with progesterone (2.0 mg. daily plus pellet) retained 73% of their pre-treatment wt. and showed only slight tissue damage. Cholestenone (3 mg. daily plus pellet) produced no measurable effect on the dove testis. Phenol did not clearly decrease testis wt. but it damaged the Leydig cells. In all of 3 groups (15 birds) treated with androsterone (0.8-2 mg. plus pellet) the normal wt. of the testes was increased by 23-39%. Body wts. were increased by treatment with progesterone, desoxycorticosterone and prolactin. Of the several substances tested only estrone had a slightly adverse effect on body wt.