Johnson B H, Welsh T H, Juniewicz P E
Biol Reprod. 1982 Mar;26(2):305-10. doi: 10.1095/biolreprod26.2.305.
The present investigation was conducted to evaluate the inhibitory effects of adrenal corticosteroids on testosterone production by the bull testis. Administration of a single i.v. dose of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH; 80 IU) resulted in a corticosteroid peak which lasted approximately 6 h. During this 6 h period, no episodic increases in secretion of LH or testosterone were initiated and basal concentrations of testosterone were suppressed (P less than 0.05) below control values. Episodic secretion of LH and testosterone resumed 6--7 h after ACTH when concentrations of serum corticosteroids had returned to basal levels. These results suggest that ACTH-induced increases in serum corticosteroids suppress the episodic secretion of LH, resulting in a suppression of testosterone secretion by the bull testis.
