Androgen secretion and spermatogenesis in rats following semistarvation.

Abstract

SummaryMale Sprague-Dawley rats were allowed to feed freely until 10 weeks of age and then were restricted to 50% of the ad libitum food intake of controls for 8 or 23 weeks. Serum testosterone, determined by gas-liquid chromatography, decreased during the first 8 weeks of food restriction to 31% of that in full-fed controls, but then rebounded to control levels following another 15 weeks of semistarvation. Similarly, weights and secretory activities of accessory reproductive organs declined during the first 8 weeks and increased during the last 15 weeks of food restriction. When allowed to refeed for 3 weeks following 20 weeks of semistarvation, serum testosterone rose to 3.0 ng/ml, twice the 1.5 ng/ml in fully fed controls and three times the 1.2 ng/ml for chronically semistarved rats at the same age.The complete absence of food from previously full-fed rats for 6 days lowered testosterone levels to undetectable quantities.Absolute weights of testes and epididymides and their concentration of sperm (per...