Alterations of testicular function in the unilaterally cryptorchid rat.

Abstract

AbstractMature male Sprague-Dawley rats were either rendered unilaterally cryptorchid or used as intact controls. At 7, 14, 21, and 28 days postsurgery, five animals from each group were sacrificed, blood samples were collected, and the cryptorchid, eutopic, and intact control testes were removed. The cryptorchid testes weights decreased markedly below the controls while the weights of the eutopic testes did not vary from those of the controls. The levels of serum LH, FSH, and testosterone (T) did not significantly differ between the two groups throughout the study. The testicular content of T, expressed as nanograms per testis, decreased in the cryptorchid testes below control values from 30.6 ± 3.3 ng at 7 days to 10.8 ± 0.3 ng at 28 days while the content of the eutopic testes increased above controls from 71.1 ± 6.0 ng at 7 days to 131.7 ± 9.8 ng at 28 days. The cytoplasmic estrogen receptor level (3H-E2 bound/mg protein) of the cryptorchid testis increased threefold above control levels at 7 days and...