EFFECT OF POLYDIETHYLSTILBOESTROL PHOSPHATE ON THE PITUITARY CONTENT OF FSH AND ICSH IN MALE RATS

• Published in: Acta endocrinologica (Copenhagen) Vol. 61; no. 3; pp. 449 - 460
• Main Authors: Perklev, T, Gröning, Y
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Denmark 01.07.1969
• Subjects: Animals; Body Weight; Diethylstilbestrol - pharmacology; Epididymis - anatomy & histology; Follicle Stimulating Hormone - analysis; Gonadotropins, Pituitary - analysis; Male; Organ Size; Pituitary Gland - analysis; Pituitary Gland - anatomy & histology; Pituitary Gland - drug effects; Prostate - anatomy & histology; Rats; Seminal Vesicles - anatomy & histology; Testis - anatomy & histology
• ISSN: 0804-4643; 0001-5598; 1479-683X
• DOI: 10.1530/acta.0.0610449

ABSTRACT The effect of a single dose of polydiethylstilboestrol phosphate (PSP) on the pituitary content of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and interstitial cell stimulating hormone (ICSH) was studied in intact, adult male rats after 7, 28, 103 and 161 days, respectively. The body weight and different organ weights were also recorded. The results were compared with those obtained in untreated controls and in rats treated with daily doses of diethylstilboestrol (DES) for 7 days. The pituitary FSH and ICSH content in the control rats decreased roughly to about half during a period of approximately 5 months, i. e. from the 2nd to the 7th month of life. PSP (400 μg/100 g body weight) and DES (320 μg/100 g body weight) reduced the pituitary content of FSH and ICSH to approximately 35 and 50% of the control values, respectively, measured on the 7th day of treatment. The gonadotrophin inhibiting effect of PSP lasted for more than 103 days. On the other hand, on Day 28 the pituitary content of ICSH was normal and that of FSH significantly elevated in the DES-treated rats. On Day 161 both PSP- and DES-treated animals had a significantly increased ICSH content, while the FSH content was normal. Body weights, as well as the weights of the testes and accessory glands were reduced both by DES and PSP as early as on the 7th day after the commencement of treatment. Complete restoration of these parameters in DES-treated animals was found on Day 103, while PSP exerted its effect for more than 161 days. Daily injections of 3 IU of FSH and 1.5 IU of ICSH administered in the form of human menopausal gonadotrophin (HMG) to PSP-treated rats from the day of PSP injection for 14 days counteracted the weight loss of the testes and accessory glands, as well as the loss of body weight and the reduced food intake. The hypertrophy of the adrenals and the sterility produced by the administration of PSP were completely prevented by HMG injections.