Propranolol stimulates testicular interstitial fluid formation and testosterone secretion in rats

ABSTRACT

We investigated the effect of intratesticularly injected propranolol on testicular interstitial fluid (TIF) formation and on testosterone levels in the TIF of intact adult male Wistar rats (4-9 rats per group). D1-propranolol at doses of 0.6, 1.2 or 6.0 mg/kg was injected into the left (L) testis whereas the right (R) testis (control testis) received vehicle. d1-propranolol (6.0 mg/kg) caused a significant increase in both TIF volume (329 per cent) and TIF levels of testosterone (257 per cent) in the L testis but not in the R (control) testis 3 h post-injection. In rats treated simultaneously with human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG, 5 IU/rat, sc) the same dose of propranolol (6.0 mg/kg) significantly increased the stimulatory effect of hCG on testosterone secretion by 1.8-fold, but hCG did not modify the stimulatory effect of propranolol on TIF volume. These results demonstrate a direct stimulatory effect of propranolol on TIF volume and testosterone secretion, both under basal and hCG-stimulated conditions.