ABSTRACT
Seasonal changes in plasma androgens, testicular total protein content, gonosomatic index, and spermatogenic activity were studied in the grey partridge, Perdix perdix. Moreover, testicular androgen output after stimulation with ovine LH (oLH) was tested in vitro during different periods of the sexual cycle. Androgens and the gonosomatic index peaked in April, during which all the spermatogenic stages were observed. Total protein content in the testes was highest in January and March. Gonadal responsiveness to oLH was found to increase in the period April-May in coincidence with the hormone peak in the plasma, while February testes were irresponsive.
Subject(s)
Birds/physiology , Reproduction , Testis/physiology , Animals , Body Weight , Dihydrotestosterone/blood , In Vitro Techniques , Male , Proteins/analysis , Seasons , Sperm Maturation , Spermatogenesis , Testosterone/bloodABSTRACT
The influence of castration, androgen replacement therapy and cyproterone acetate on the activity of beta-glucuronidase, acid and alkaline phosphatases and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase was studied in the caput, corpus and cauda epididymidis of the mouse. The results add further evidence that the epididymis is not uniform but has regional differences in activity. Thus beta-glucuronidase was found to be androgen-dependent only in the cauda epididymidis, whereas glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase was under androgenic control in the caput epididymidis. The response of alkaline and acid phosphatases to castration and to androgen replacement was different in different segments.
Subject(s)
Castration , Cyproterone/pharmacology , Dihydrotestosterone/pharmacology , Epididymis/enzymology , Acid Phosphatase/metabolism , Alkaline Phosphatase/metabolism , Animals , Epididymis/drug effects , Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase/metabolism , Glucuronidase/metabolism , Male , Mice , Time FactorsABSTRACT
Castration provokes a time-related decrease in weight, protein, beta-glucuronidase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity of seminal vesicles. A dose-dependent stimulation of these parameters is obtained with 5alpha-DHT. Cryproterone acetate counteracts the stimulatory effects due to androgen. Acid and alkaline phosphatases remain largely unaffected by these treatments.
