Gonadotropin secretion in cryptorchid and castrate rams and the acute effects of exogenous steroid treatment.

Gonadotropin secretion in cryptorchid and castrate rams and the acutve been determined. Rams made cryptorchid at 6 weeks of age had increased serum levels of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) when determined at 9 months of age. These levels approached those of the castrate animal; and yet serum levels of testosterone (T) were unchanged. Even though mean serum LH concentrations were elevated sixfold to eightfold over those of intact ram levels, a temporal relationship between this hormone and T was observed similar to that reported in the intact ram. Intramuscular injections of dihydrotestosterone had no effect on circulating levels of LH or FSH in either cryptorchid or castrate rams, whereas T effectively reduced these gonadotropins in castrate but not in cryptorchid rams. Only estradiol-17beta (E2) was effective in both cryptorchid and castrate rams. Estradiol was a potent inhibitor of LH secretion; however, its effect on FSH levels was less dramatic. This suggests that testicular products other than E2 may be important in the regulation of FSH production and/or release. Importantly, the inhibition of LH secretion lasted less than 12 h; whereas, the negative effects of E2 on FSH secretion lasted 72 to 144 h. In conclusion, results from this study show that T is not the single factor responsible for regulation of LH and FSH secretion in male sheep. Estradiol may be an important regulator of gonadotropin secretion, but 5alpha-reduction plays no apparent role in this process.