Effect of gold on stimulation of reproductive function in immature female albino rats.

Significant increase in ovarian and uterine weight and stimulation of ovarian delta5-3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (delta5-3beta-HSD) activity and elevation of serum estradiol level were observed following gold chloride (0.2 mg/kg body weight/day), s.c. administration in immature female albino rats. Moreover, normal cyclic changes of estrus were found in vaginal smears of these rats whereas the rats of other groups showed diestrus phase throughout the period of experiment. Histological study of ovary also showed Graafian follicle with ovum in rats treated with 0.2 mg/kg/day of gold proving stimulation of reproductive function, which was not found in the ovarian histological study of other groups including controls. Thus, the results suggest a significant stimulatory effect of gold chloride on female reproductive activity in immature rats. Further, since the above-mentioned changes were evident at a specific dose of gold chloride, the data may have some clinical implications on stimulation and enhancement of fertility in immature female rats.

Hormonal contraceptive like effect of estrogen in milk protein-fed male rats.

Adult male rats received daily injections (sc) of estradiol-17 beta (50 microg/100 g body wt per day) for 7 days. When they were sacrificed 14 days after the last injection, serum levels of gonadotropins and testosterone and weights of accessory sex organs were decreased significantly, testicular 17-hydroxysteroid dehydroganase activity was suppressed and spermatogenesis was inhibited in 5.0% casein-fed estrogen-treated rats. Feeding of 20.0% casein diet to estrogen-treated rats resulted in increased serum concentration of gonadotropins and testosterone. LH and testosterone appeared to be normal in 20.0% casein-fed estrogen-treated rats while serum FSH levels remained subnormal. The estrogen-treated rats fed on 20.0% casein diet showed decreased spermatogenesis in comparison with control rats fed on 20.0% casein diet. Together, these results indicate that high casein diet stimulates synthesis of testicular testosterone and increases serum LH levels more than FSH in estrogen-treated rats. It is concluded that estrogen in the presence of high milk protein diet may be considered to be a suitable steroid hormone in the development of a male contraceptive.