THE EFFECT OF SERUM GONADOTROPHIC HORMONE ON THE RESERPINE-BLOCKED GENITAL FUNCTION OF MALE RATS

ABSTRACT The purpose of the present work was to establish the effect of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) on the gonads of the male rat after blocking normal genital function with reserpine. Serum gonadotrophic hormone, which resembles FSH in its effect, was given to male rats for 16 days (40 IU every other day). The genital function of some of the animals was blocked with reserpine (0.05 mg per day). The effect of the treatment was as follows: The serum gonadotrophic hormone inhibited weight loss in the testes and histologically demonstrable atrophy in test animals treated with reserpine. This suggests a possible inhibition of hypophyseal FSH secretion by reserpine. The weight of the seminal vesicle was considerably increased in the abovementioned test animals. The following alternative explanations were offered: a) The secretion of androgenic hormones was increased since the size of the seminal vesicle reflects the hormone content of the organism. b) Retention of secretion in the gland was increased by reserpine. c) Synergism of these two factors.