THE INFLUENCE OF PITUITARY HOMOGRAFTS ON THE WEIGHT OF THE ACCESSORY REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS IN CASTRATED MALE MICE AND RATS AND ON MATING BEHAVIOUR IN MALE MICE

Abstract

SUMMARY The effects of heterotopic pituitary homografts on the weight of the accessory reproductive structures, submandibular glands and kidneys were studied in castrated, castrated—adrenalectomized and castrated—hypophysectomized male rats and mice. In rats no consistent effects were seen; in mice the weights of the seminal vesicles, submandibular glands and kidneys were increased. When castrated mice were treated with prolactin or growth hormone (GH), singly or combined, the seminal vesicles responded to all three treatments at certain dose levels, while the submandibular glands were affected by GH only. The effects of pituitary isografts were compared in castrated and in intact hereditary dwarf mice. The weight of the submandibular glands was increased in both groups but that of the seminal vesicles only in intact dwarfs. It was concluded that in male mice prolactin exerts a small testis-independent influence on the reproductive system, and may also increase the production of androgen by the testis. Pituitary grafts had no effect on the restoration of mating behaviour in either castrated or castrated—hypophysectomized male mice treated with testosterone propionate.