Effect of testosterone on hypothalamic LH-RH content.

Hypothalamic LH-RH content in male rats is lowered after castration. The s.c. implantation of testosterone or testosterone propionate-packed Silastic tubing (from 0.5 to 6 cm in length) in a range which encompassed the normal circulating plasma testosterone concentration, prevented this lowered LH-RH content 21 days following castration and simultaneous implantation. The temporal response to implanted testosterone was then studied: rats were killed 1,2,4,8,14 and 21 days after castration and simultaneous implantation of 3 cm testosterone-packed Silastic tubing. The hypothalamic LH-RH content began to decrease in the castrated group after 4 days and fell progressively thereafter. However, the hypothalamic LH-RH content of the castrated group maintained with constant levels of testosterone showed no such reduction at any time following castration. These experiments indicate that circulating testosterone in physiological concentrations can maintain a normal hypothalamic LH-RH content and demonstrate an action of testosterone, in physiological concentrations, in the feedback regulation of LH-RH secretion.