Summary
The effects of hCG with or without FSH on the development of puberty and sperm production
potential in the rat were studied. Rats treated daily once or thrice with a combination
of hCG and FSH were younger at puberty and weighed less than those in the hCG-treated
and control groups. Absolute and relative paired testes weights were higher in the
control rats than in those that received one dose of the combined gonadotropins, which
were also inferior in their sperm producing potential when compared to the other groups
except for the rats treated with hCG.
Although the kinetics of spermatogenesis appeared stable regardless of treatment,
slight shifts were observed which suggest that the hCG treatment may delay and enhance
spermiation and spermatid elongation, respectively. With the addition of FSH, however,
spermiation and the final stages of the maturation division were delayed while the
division of spermatogonia, spermatid elongation and the onset of both the maturation
division and spermiation became enhanced.
Key words
Gonadotropins - Puberty - Spermatogenesis
