RESPONSE OF THE PITUITARY-TESTICULAR AXIS TO LUTEINIZING HORMONE-RELEASING HORMONE IN THE IMMATURE MALE RAT

Abstract

Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone and androstenedione were measured by radioimmunoassays in the sera of immature male rats treated with luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LH-RH). A single dose of 10, 20, 40 or 80 ng of LH-RH promptly increased serum LH: significant changes in FSH were found only with the 2 larger doses. Serum testosterone increased to peak levels in 20 to 40 min and returned to control level by 120 min. Changes in androstenedione were temporally similar but smaller in magnitude. Four doses of 20 or 40 ng LH-RH given at 20 min intervals did not increase serum LH or testosterone concentrations above those found with a single injection; FSH was slightly higher after the 4th dose. However, 40 ng LH-RH given every 20 min for 2 h greatly increased serum LH and FSH: serum and testicular androgens were also much higher during the 2nd h. A 2 h stimulation with 80 ng LH-RH given i.p. at 30 min intervals did not alter the response to the same treatment given 24 h later; i.e., neither the pituitary nor the gonad was primed by previous exposure to increased levels of LH-RH or gonadotropins. A single pulse of LH-RH probably produces a predictable response in the animal, but multiple episodic stimuli probably produce variable responses: testes, on the other hand probably produce androgens as long as gonadotropins are available.