Effects of estradiol dipropionate on the biochemical composition of testis and accessory sex organs of adult rats.

A short term treatment of 14 days with estradiol dipropionate, ovocyclin¿ to adult male albino rats for 7 and 14 days in a dose of 2 mg/rat significantly inhibited the structural and functional integrity of the testis and accessory glands. The weights of these organs were significantly reduced. The activity of the enzymes acid and alkaline phosphatase and succinic dehydrogenase in testis and the concentration of sialic acids, fructose and citric acid in caput and cauda epididymides, prostate and seminal vesicles respectively were significantly lowered after both treatments. All these changes were found to be irreversible even on withdrawal of ovocyclin¿ for 28 days after 14 days treatment. On discussing the results with previous reports, it is proposed that estrogens probably impede the activity of these organs by inhibition of androgen production, their antiandrogenic nature or their direct action on these organs.