Ultrastructural modifications of the testes and accessory sex glands of genetically dwarf mice after treatment with human chorionic somatomammotropin.

We have studied the effects of treatment with human chorionic somatommatropin (hCS) in the dwarf mouse on the weight and ultrastructure of the testes and accessory sex glands. We used animals of the Snell-Bagg (dw/dw) strain, whose hypophyses secrete neither prolactin nor growth hormone. The effects found were compared with those produced by a similar treatment with ovine prolactin. The administration of hCS causes a significant increase in the wet weight of the testes and accessory sex glands. Ultrastructural observations have demonstrated that hCS is able to stimulate sperminogenesis and the secretory function of the accessory sex glands. Prolactin, as shown in previous reports in the literature, has a similar action on the male reproductive system. However, contrary to the observation after prolactin therapy, no matings were observed after treatment with hCS.