Testosterone eliminates the attenuating effect of castration on the progressive glomerular injury in hypercholesterolemic male Imai rats.

Hypercholesterolemic Imai rats, especially males, spontaneously develop proteinuria and glomerulosclerosis. We have shown that castration attenuated the progression of glomerular injury in male Imai rats. The present study was designed to investigate whether the attenuating effect of castration on glomerulosclerosis is eliminated by administration of testosterone. Testosterone propionate (TP) eliminated the attenuating effect of castration on the progression of glomerular injury by significantly and dose dependently increasing proteinuria and enhancing glomerular sclerosis. TP at 1 mg failed to reverse glomerulosclerosis to the control levels, despite a dose of TP sufficient to restore urinary protein excretion, serom testosterone level and glomerular growth. The results indicated that besides testosterone other sex-related hormones may be involved in the development of glomerulosclerosis in male Imai rats.