Inhibition of Canalization in Rat Seminiferous Cords by Medroxyprogesterone Acetate

Abstract

Due to interest in progestins as male contraceptives, Provera was used to study lumen formation in seminiferous cords. Seven day old rats received daily subcutaneous Depo Provera injections (500 μg/100 g b. w.). At 23 and 28 days of age testes from treated and control animals were prepared for 1 μ plastic sections. At least 100 cross sections of seminiferous cords and tubules were studied in each animal and the per cent of tubules with lumens was calculated. Lumen formation was significantly retarded in the experimental animals. At 23 days tubules in the treated and control animals comprise 7.5 ± 4.1 and 33.3 ± 13.6 % respectively, and at 28 days 15.8 ± 8.3 and 47.5 ± 16.0%. Another series of animals received daily doses of FSH (12.5 μg/100 g b. w.) and LH (50 μg/100 g b. w.) with Depo Provera. Lumen formation in this series was similar to that in animals receiving Depo Provera alone.