QUALITATIVE CHANGES INDUCED IN GONADOTROPIC COMPLEX OF PITUITARY BY TESTOSTERONE PROPIONATE1

Abstract

Detns. were made of the relative content of follicle-stimulating (FSH) and luteinizing (LH) (ICSH) factors in the pituitaries and blood serum of 71 normal adult [male] rats, 42 castrated untreated adults and 53 castrated [male][male] which had been treated for periods of 15 to 45 days with testosterone propionate. The results indicate that the internal secretion of the testes brings about the release of the luteinizing factor from the pituitary, and suppresses the liberation of the FSH. The pituitaries of normal [male] rats contain primarily FSH while the blood serum contains LH and small amts. of FSH. Following castration the LH, as well as FSH, is markedly increased in the pituitary; the FSH in the blood stream is also present in greater amts., whereas the LH appears to be decreased. Treatment of castrated rats with testosterone propionate reduced the LH content of the pituitary, but had relatively little effect on the FSH. In the blood serum of these animals, the amt. of FSH was lowered, whereas the LH factor appeared to be increased after 15 and 30 days of treatment but not after 45 days of treatment.