Reproductive changes during the early stages of chronic renal insufficiency in the male rat.

Abstract

To examine the reproductive abnormalities during the early stages of chronic renal insufficiency, male rats were studied 1, 2, or 4 weeks after a 2-stage 5/6 nephrectomy or sham surgery. Serum creatinine and urea nitrogen were elevated 3 to 4-fold in nephrectomized rats at all times. Absolute testicular weight was not different between groups but relative testicular weight was higher in nephrectomized animals because of their lower body weight. Absolute prostate and seminal vesicle weights were depressed nephrectomized rats at 4 weeks. Serum luteinizing hormone (LH) was depressed by nephrectomy at all times whereas follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) was elevated at 4 weeks. Testosterone and androstenedione in serum and testicular interstitial fluid were depressed by nephrectomy at all times. Pituitary LH and FSH were depressed in nephrectomized rats by 2 weeks. These data indicate that some, but not all, of the reproductive defects that accompany chronic renal insufficiency are already present 1 week after a large reduction in renal mass and that defects in both pituitary and testicular function probably occur.