Testicular binding of 125I-HCG in developing estrogenized and androgenized rats.

The present work describes changes seen in the binding of 125I-HCG by testis homogenates of rats injected at the age of three days with 400 microgram estradiol-17beta-dipropionate, or 250 microgram testosterone propionate. Estrogenized and androgenized male rats showed a marked decrease of gonadotropin binding in testis at the 30th, 45th and 60th postnatal day. These results show that delayed sexual maturation of male rats treated with estrogen and androgen in the neonatal period is also related to pubertal decrease of testicular gonadotropin receptors.