Possible role of changes in post-natal gonadotrophin concentrations on permanent impairment of the reproductive system in neonatally oestrogenized male rats.

Rats were treated neonatally with oestrogen (500 micrograms oestradiol benzoate injected on Day 1 of life). Treatment with FSH and LH (80 micrograms/100 g body wt and 40 micrograms/100 g body wt respectively) during the early post-natal period (Days 1-10) abolished the effects of oestradiol on the morphological and functional development of the testes and on the regulation of prolactin secretion, but had no action on the effects of oestradiol on the development of the sex accessory glands. Treatment with prolactin (100 micrograms/100 g body wt) during the early post-natal period did not affect the integrity of the reproductive system in adult life. These results suggest that neonatal oestradiol acts indirectly, through an inhibition of gonadotrophin secretion on testicular development, and directly on the development of the sex accessory glands.