Korean J Urol.  1988 Aug;29(4):533-537.

Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Gonadal Function in Hepatic Failure, Experimental Study

• Kim YK
• Lee CW
• Kim KM
• Lee ES
• Chung KH
• Lee AK
• Lee SW

Abstract

Insufficiency of the liver was induced by administration of carbon tetrachloride in Wistar strain rats and its influence on the histopathology of the gonad and its accessories was studied. Plasma concentration of testosterone and estradiol was also measured to evaluate endocrinological alteration of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal function. Administration of carbon tetrachloride for 6 weeks did not alter the architecture of the gonad, but the seminal vesicles and the prostate revealed mild degree of atrophy. Plasma concentration of testosterone decreased markedly but there was no significant fall in the concentration of the plasma estradiol. Administration of carbon tetrachloride for 6 weeks along with exogenous testosterone for 4 weeks caused remarkable rise of plasma concentration of estradiol, probably due to rapid conversion of exogenous testosterone to estradiol resulting from the hepatic failure.

Keyword

hepatic failure; endocrine hypothalamus

MeSH Terms

Animals
Atrophy
Carbon Tetrachloride
Estradiol
Gonads
Liver
Liver Failure*
Plasma
Prostate
Rats
Seminal Vesicles
Testosterone
Carbon Tetrachloride
Estradiol
Testosterone