Effect of Hypophysectomy on the Fatty Acids and Lipid Classes of Rat Testes

Abstract

The effect of hypophysectomy on fatty acids and lipid classes of the testicular lipids of adult male rats 21 days after the operation is reported. Hypophysectomy resulted in an 80% loss in total weight, a 65% decrease in lipids of the testes and changes in the amount and percentage composition of fatty acids and lipid classes. The amounts of triglycerides (TG), cholesterol (C), cardiolipin (DPG), phosphatidyl ethanolamine (PE), phosphatidyl choline (PC), phosphatidyl inositol (PI), sulfatide (SU), glycosyl glycerides and sphingomyelin (SP) decreased following the operation; the amount, as well as the percentage, of cholesteryl ester (CE), glyceryl ether diester (GEDE) and phosphatidyl serine (PS) increased. The most significant changes in fatty acid composition occurred in CE and GEDE, characterized by a marked increase in the percentage of 22:5 and decreases in palmitic, linoleic and arachidonic acids in CE. The results indicate that the hypophyseal hormones play an important role in the metabolism of the testicular lipids.