The role of FSH in spermatogenesis was investigated in nonhuman primates depleted of testosterone by GnRH antagonist treatment. The GnRH antagonist antide (Nal-Lys; [N-acetyl-D-2-naphthyl-Ala1,D-4-chloro-Phe2,D-pyridyl-Ala3, nicotinyl-Lys5,D-nicotinyl-Lys6,isopropyl-Lys8,D-Ala10 ]-GnRH) was used at a daily dose of 450 micrograms/kg to suppress endogeneous gonadotropin and androgen production. Four groups of five cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) were subjected to the following treatment throughout a 16-week period: vehicle (group 1), GnRH antagonist (group 2), and GnRH antagonist plus human FSH (Fertinorm; 2 x 15 IU/day.animal; hFSH) during weeks 0-8 (group 3) or 8-16 (group 4). Testicular biopsies were performed before and after 4, 8, and 16 weeks of treatment. The tissue was analyzed by light microscopy and flow cytometry. Serum testosterone levels were suppressed into the range of orchidectomized animals in all GnRH antagonist-treated groups. In the absence of hFSH, serum inhibin levels were also markedly lowered. Concomitant administration of hFSH attenuated the GnRH antagonist-induced reduction of testicular size, while delayed treatment with hFSH failed to restimulate testicular volume. Numbers of A-dark spermatogonia, the reserve stem cells, were not altered by any of the treatments. hFSH either fully maintained or increased the counts for A-pale spermatogonia (renewing stem cells). The development of pachytene spermatocytes and round and elongated spermatids was markedly reduced or inhibited by the GnRH antagonist within 6-18 weeks. In contrasts, hFSH maintained these cell types at about 50% of baseline for 8 weeks. After 8 weeks of GnRH antagonist administration, hFSH stimulated A-pale spermatogonia and spermatocytes 2- to 3-fold with only minor effects on spermatid numbers. By means of flow cytometry, testicular cells were quantified according to DNA content. Within 8-16 weeks of GnRH antagonist treatment the percentage of 4C (mainly primary spermatocytes), 1C (round spermatids), and 1CC cells (elongated spermatids) had fallen from 65-75% to 5-25%. hFSH completely maintained the relative number of these cells, but failed to significantly restimulate the formation of 1CC cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

The effects of combined treatment with an antagonist of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (ANT) and the antiandrogen flutamide (FL) on spermatogenesis were studied in the presence and absence of exogenous follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). After treatment for 2 weeks, the combination of ANT (RS 68439, 450\p=n-\500\ g=m\ g/ kg per day, s.c.) with 10, 20 or 40 mg FL/day, s.c. was as effective as ANT plus the Leydig cell toxin ethane dimethane sulphonate (75 mg/kg per week, i.p.) in terms of reduction in weight of testes, epididymides and seminal vesicles. Thus, a daily dose of 10 mg FL/kg was sufficient to block the androgen action in the testes of ANT-treated rats. In a second experiment, rats received ANT and ANT + FL (10 mg/kg) alone or in combination with a highly purified human FSH preparation (5 or 10 iu, twice a day) for 2 weeks. FSH did not affect testosterone concentration or weight of epididymides and seminal vesicles, but ANT+FL markedly enhanced the ANT-induced reduction of testis weight, seminiferous tubule diameter and numbers of germ cells, as revealed by qualitative and quantitative analysis of testis histology. In the absence of FL, testis size and numbers of germ cells, including elongated spermatids, were increased by FSH. In the presence of FL, the effects of FSH were less pronounced with respect to the germ cells, in terms of both numbers of cells and the effective dose of FSH. Irrespective of treatment with FL, exogenous FSH increased the inhibin concentrations in serum, indicating that Sertoli cells remained responsive to FSH. From the present study it is concluded that (i) FL accelerates ANT-induced testicular involution, (ii) FSH has a role in adult spermatogenesis and (iii) the effects of FSH on advanced germ cells are influenced by androgens.

Abstract. Dispersed pituitary cells from adult female rats were preincubated for different time periods (0– 12 h) in the absence or presence of 10−9 moestradiol (E2) or 4-hydroxyoestradiol (4-OHE2). Then the media were changed and the cells incubated for 4 h with either vehicle, or E2, or 4-OHE2 and additionally with different concentrations (10−11– 10−7 m) of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH). Treatment of pituitary cells with E2 for 4 h (i.e. no preincubation with E2) significantly decreased the LH-response to GnRH at concentrations ≥ 10−10 m of the decapeptide. During a transition time of approximately 10 h (i.e. in cultures preincubated with E2 or vehicle for 2, 4, 6 or 8 h and then coincubated with E2 or vehicle and GnRH for 4 h) no differences between E2-and vehicle-treated cultures were observed. After 14 and 16 h of E2-treatment (i.e. 10 or 12 h preincubation and 4 h coincubation with GnRH) the LH-responses to GnRH in these cultures were significantly higher than in the respective controls. A nearly identical reaction pattern was observed when 4-OHE2 was used instead of E2. In a second series of experiments dispersed rat pituitary cells were suspended in a carrier gel and continuously perifused with medium, using small chromatography columns. When these cells were exposed for 4 min to 10−9 m GnRH at 60 or 48 min intervals, they reacted with reproducible pulsatile LH-discharges during at least 6 subsequent stimuli with the decapeptide. When E2 (10−9 m) was added to the perifusion medium, the LH-responses to GnRH were significantly reduced, starting 36 min after the onset of E2-treatment. These data indicate: 1) In the rat, the negative oestrogen effect is at least in part directly mediated at the pituitary level. 2) The sensitizing effect of oestrogens on rat gonadotrophs to GnRH is significant already after 14 to 16 h. 3) E2 and the catecholoestrogen 4-OHE2 have the same effects in this system. 4) The negative E2-effect on GnRH-induced LH-release is significant after only 36 min, a finding bringing up the question of a non-genomic mechanism.

Inhibin and testosterone were measured in the serum of young and old men with proven fertility before and after stimulation with human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) in order to characterize endocrinological changes in senescence further. While there was a significant increase of both hormones in all young men, there was a decreased response of serum testosterone and an insignificant increase in inhibin in the older men. Although basal hormone levels and ejaculate parameters were not different, hCG stimulation revealed that there were decreased secretory capacities of Leydig as well as of Sertoli cells in old age.