Effects of Gonadotropins on Puberty and Sperm Production in the Rat

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