EFFECTS OF HYPOPHYSECTOMY ON IMPLANTED TESTES OF THE NEUTER MEDAKA, ORYZIAS LATIPES.

The effects of hypophysectomy on spermatogenesis in testes implanted to neuter individuals of the medaka, oryzias latipes, have been histologically studied. The neuter fish produced by prolonged androgen treatment during larval life maintained the implanted testes for more than 8 months, irrespective of the genetic sex of the host. Histological examination revealed that all the implanted testes were filled with numerous cysts containing cells at all spermatogenetic stages, as in the normal testes. Each cyst contained only cells at the same stage. Furthermore, the implanted testes had fertile spermatozoa. In the experiment of regeneration of amputated anal fins, the implanted testes were found to be able to induce the formation of papillar processes, although the number of processes was one-half of that induced by normal testes. Hypophysectomy of the fish was successfully achieved by orbital approach. The survival rate of the operated fish was 95% a week after the operation and still 50% 14 months later. Hypophysectomy inhibited the transformation of spermatogonia to spermatocytes in spermatogenesis. The presence of the capacity to carry out normal spermatogenesis and induce papillar processes in the testis-implanted neuter fish suggests that the hypothalamus of the neuter fish was not seriously affected by prolonged androgen treatment.