Increased testicular 5 alpha-androstane-3 alpha, 17 beta-diol formation induced by treatment with [D-Ser (TBU) 6, des-Gly-NH2(10)] LHRH ethylamide in the rat.

While the intact male adult rats respond to LH with a predominant increase of testicular and plasma testosterone levels, the response to LH stimulation in animals treated with the LHRH agonist, [D-Ser(TBU) 6, des-Gly-NH2(10)] LHRH ethylamide is characterized by a major production of 5 alpha-androstane-3 alpha, 17 beta-diol. The marked increase of 5 alpha-androstane-3 alpha, 17 beta-diol levels in the presence of a 90% decrease of testosterone concentration strongly suggests that 5 alpha-reductase and 3 alpha-hydroxysteroid oxidoreductase activities are increased during testicular desensitization induced by treatment with the LHRH agonist.