Effect of Oestradiol-3,17ß Dipropionate on Spermatogenesis and Lysosomal Enzymes in the Rat Tests

Abstract

Daily intramuscular injections (20 f-Lgjday) of oestradiol-3, 17,8 dipropionate in adult male rats depressed body growth and reduced the weight of the testes and seminal vesicles between 4 and 8 days of treatment.The proportion of soluble acid phosphatase (E.C. 3.1.3.2), acid proteinase (E.C. 3.4.4.23), and ,8-glucuronidase (E.C. 3.2.1.31), increased during oestradiol treatment. There was also an increase in the total amount of acid proteinase and ,8.glucuronidase but no significant change in total acid phosphatase activity with oestrogen treatment. These changes in hydrolase activity coincided with a decrease in the yield of late primary spermatocytes from early primary spermatocytes, and long spermatidsfromroundspermatids. Histochemical evidence supported the biochemical and histochemical findings, with increasing tubular staining of acid phosphatase and lipid in the testis during treatment.It is concluded that lysosomal enzymes are important in testicular degeneration and probably in normal spermatogenesis.

Studies on Testicular Function. II. Effects of FSH, LH, Testosterone and Dihydrotestosterone on Restoration and Maintenance of Lysosomal Enzyme Activity in the Testis of the Hypophysectomized Rat

“…If acid phosphatase activity is demonstrated histochemically in the testis, using sodium a-naphthyl phosphate as substrate, then it would be expected that acid phosphatase II (Vanha-Perrula 1971d) would be detected, mainly in the interstitial lysosomes (Vanha-Perttula 1971d). However, in other histochemical studies acid phosphatase that will hydrolyse sodium a-naphthyl phosphate has been found mainly in seminiferous tubular epithelium of the rat testis (Elkington and Blackshaw 1971;Elkington et al 1973). According to Vanha-Perttula (1971d) the tubular acid phosphatases (III and IV) do not hydrolyse a-naphthyl phosphate and should not be detected by this technique.…”

Acid Phosphatases in the Human Testis After Prolonged Estrogen Treatment

“…The effects of induced regression by various means on testicular acid phosphatase have usually been studied using histochemical methods. Generally an intense acid phosphatasepositive staining has been reported particularly during the initial stages of spermatogenic regression (Baust et al -1967, Elkington andBlackshaw -1971). Such observations have led to the important concept of lysosomal participation in the process of cytolysis (Reddy and Svoboda -1967, Kochar and Harrison -1971, Elkington et al -1967.…”

“…It is also known to inhibit the activity of several testicular enzymes (Blackshaw -1970). However, treatment of adult rats with estradiol caused an impairment of spermatogenesis, but no significant change in the total acid phosphatase activity was recorded (Elkington and Blackshaw -1971).…”

Proceedings of the Australian Society for Reproductive Biology

“…Peak levels of oestrogens at parturition are higher in the cow than in the other two species. (Elkington & Blackshaw, 1971a (Elkington & Blackshaw, 1971b) in which the 'free' enzyme indicates lysosomal fragility and which may be com¬ pared with the total enzyme activity of the preparation.…”