Maintenance of spermatogenesis with testosterone or dihydrotestosterone in hypophysectomized rats.

In an earlier study (Ahmad, Haltmeyer & Eik-Nes, 1973), we reported maintenance of spermatogenesis in tubules of hypophysectomized rats adjoining intratesticular implants of silastic capsules containing testosterone or dihydrotestosterone (DHT). It was suggested that the local differences in the testes of the rats receiving the two treatments might be attributed to the relative amounts of hormone escaping from the silastic capsules. It was calculated that only 8\m=.\3\g=m\gDHT/day escaped from the capsule over the course of the experiment compared to 12\m=.\0\g=m\gtestosterone/day. In order to compare the maintenance of spermatogenesis in DHTand testosterone-treated rats with that in normal controls, experiments were undertaken in which larger quantities of hormones than those in the previous study were administered to hypophysectomized rats. Twenty-eight male Long\p=m-\Evansrats were hypophysectomized at 90 days of