[Role of testosterone in the testicular microcirculatory changes produced in the rat by the administration of high doses of human chorionic gonadotrophin].

A study was performed in 20 male Wistar rats weighing 250-300 gm; 10 comprised the control group and the other 10 were treated with 5 mg/day of cyproterone acetate which was given with the meal for 2 months. The rat testicular microcirculation was studied by laser Doppler flowmetry. Similarly, the testicular interstitial fluid volume and plasma testosterone in peripheral blood were determined. Within each of the two groups, 5 were studied without any pharmacologic stimulation and 5 at 4 hours following the administration of 100 IU subcutaneous HCG. The rats treated with cyproterone acetate had very low levels of serum testosterone (1.254 +/- 0.667) versus the control group (3.686 +/- 0.705), the difference being statistically significant (p < 0.05). Following administration of HCG, the microcirculation changes and the interstitial fluid were the same as those of the control group despite the blockade of the androgenic receptors by cyproterone acetate. The increase in testosterone levels therefore does not appear to mediate the testicular microcirculation changes produced by HCG.