STUDY OF THE DIRECT EFFECT OF LHRH AGONIST ON TESTICULAR 17-HYDROXYLASE AND 5α-REDUCTASE ACTIVITIES IN NON-HYPOPHYSECTOMIZED ADULT RATS TREATED WITH AN ANTI-LUTEINIZING HORMONE SERUM

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0039-128X(84)90054-0

In order to study both direct and pituitary-mediated mechanisms of action of the LHRH analogue 6, des-Gly-NH2¹⁰>LHRH ethylamide upon testicular steroidogenesis in adult rat, we compared the effects of the agonist when administered alone or concomitantly with an anti-LH serum to non-hypophysectomized rats.Testicular steroid contents and in vitro progesterone and testosterone metabolism were determined.Anti-LH serum administration was able to prevent 5α-reductase stimulation by the agonistic peptide, but not the inhibition of 17-hydroxylase activity.These data suggest that modulation of 17-hydroxylase involves both direct and pituitary-mediated processes, while 5α-reductase stimulation is mainly if not only due to a pituitary-mediated mechanism.