Abstract
We have studied the response of atrophic Leydig cells to gonadotrophin replacement in young hypophysectomized (HX) and GnRH antagonist (GnRH-ANT)-treated rats. Hypophysectomy was performed at 28 days of age. Age-matched rats were treated with GnRH-ANT from 28 to 51 days of age. From 45 to 51 days of age, animals were injected with 5 IU recFSH, 10 IU hCG or vehicle. Body and testicular weights, as well as the diameter of the seminiferous tubules were significantly higher in GnRH-ANT-treated than in HX rats. Both recombinant FSH and hCG treatments induced a similar increase in testicular weight and tubule diameter in HX and GnRH-ANT-treated rats. However, hCG treatment induced a significantly higher increase in Leydig cell size in HX (3.2-fold) than in GnRH-ANT-treated (1.4-fold) rats. These results suggest that the response of atrophic Leydig cells to gonadotrophin supplementation was partially inhibited in the presence of GnRH antagonist, whereas Sertoli cell-mediated responses seem not to be affected.
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