Effects of Large Dose Testosterone and Testosterone Combined with HCG on Histological Structure of Mice Testes

Park, Joo Suck; Chun, Choong Sung

Abstract

Testosterone therapy in high doses produces male infertility. There are reports that atrophy of the interstitial cells and decrease in testicular size occur in the rat after treatment with testosterone, and the azoospermia which resulted from testosterone therapy could be reversed by simultaneous treatment with HCG. This study was evaluated for 45 days to clarify microscopic changes in the testis. A total of 60 male mice, 30 BALB/C strain, aged 3-4 weeks and with an average body weight of l2 g and 30 BALB/C strain, aged 3 months and with an average body weight of 20 g, were divided into 2 groups; for one group treatment with testosterone propionate only and another group fur treatment with testosterone propionate and HCG. The results of histological structure were as follows: 1. Mature group, treated with testosterone propionate (0.25mg/g B.W.) daily, reduced Leydig cell numbers and showed germinal epithelium atrophy, and inhibited spermatogenesis. 2. Mature group, treated with testosterone propionate (0.25mg/g B.W.) daily and HCG (2.5 I.U./g B.W.) every 3 days, showed normal variation of interstitial cell, germinal epithelium and spermatogenesis. 3. Immature group, treated with testosterone propionate (0.25mg/g B.W.) daily, increased in numbers of Leydig cells slightly and showed tortuous tubules and spermatogenesis. 4. Immature group, treated with testosterone propionate (0.2.mg/g B.W.) daily and HCG (2.5 I.U./g B.W.) every 3 days, showed normal variation of interstitial cell, germinal epithelium and spermatogenesis.