Reduction of testicular blood flow and focal degeneration of tissue in the rat after administration of human chorionic gonadotrophin.

The effect of 100 IU human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) on testicular capillary blood flow was studied in adult male rats using a 133Xe clearance method and a radioactive microsphere technique. To investigate the role of Leydig cells in regulation of testicular blood flow after treatment with hCG, rats were pretreated with ethane dimethylsulphonate (EDS) which selectively destroys mature Leydig cells. Six hours after treatment with hCG, testicular blood flow decreased in control and hypophysectomized rats to 25-50% of normal values, but not in EDS-pretreated animals. Prostaglandin E2 levels were also determined 6 h after an injection of hCG. A 300-fold increase in the concentration of prostaglandin E2 occurred in normal testis tissue. This rise was markedly inhibited if EDS was given 3 days before administration of hCG. Furthermore, 6 h after administration of hCG, the filling of the testicular capillary bed with methylacrylate was decreased, while in control rats and rats treated with EDS and hCG, complete filling of the capillaries was seen. Cell degeneration in some subcapsular seminiferous tubules was observed 6-10 days after treatment with hCG. The results suggest that the hCG-induced precapillary vasoconstriction, probably mediated (in part) by prostaglandins, causes reduction in testicular blood flow 6 h after administration of hCG, and may result in cell damage.