Sex steroid hormones levels and testicular activity during hepatocarcinogenesis by N-2-fluorenylacetamide.

During hepatocarcinogenesis by N-2-fluorenylacetamide, the hormonal status of male Sprague-Dawley rats is modified. The testes present a reduced activity which is evidenced by a decreased spermatogenetic activity accompanied by a drastic decrease of the plasma testosterone level. In contrast, plasma progesterone and estradiol-17 beta levels were not modified despite the 80 fold augmentation of alpha-fetoprotein, an estrogen binding protein synthesized during liver carcinogenesis.