High and low doses of luteinizing hormone induce different changes in testicular microcirculation.

To study the effects of LH on total testicular blood flow and microcirculation, rats were treated with 2.5 or 25 micrograms LH sc and measurements were made on control rats and on LH-treated rats 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 12 h, after treatment. After treatment with 25 micrograms LH, total testicular blood flow, as measured with the radioactive microsphere method, was decreased at 6 h and increased at 12 h. Testicular microcirculatory blood flow was recorded with laser Doppler flowmetry and regular oscillations in blood flow, vasomotion, was observed in control rats. Vasomotion was not present 4 and 6 h after treatment with 25 micrograms LH, but returned at 12 h. Prior to and concomitantly with these changes in vasomotion, polymorphonuclear leukocytes accumulated in testicular microvessels and migrated into the interstitial tissue. These changes were followed, 6 h after treatment, by an increased vascular permeability, measured as increased testicular interstitial fluid volume. The lower dose of LH (2.5 micrograms), doubled plasma testosterone concentration and initially decreased interstitial fluid volume, and later induced a slight increase in blood vessel leukocytes. At the times studied, no changes could be observed in the other vascular parameters. In conclusion, it is suggested that LH, probably via some Leydig cell product, promotes regulatory effects on testicular microcirculation, but different magnitudes of LH stimulation induce different responses.