ESTROGEN, ANDROGEN AND ANTIESTROGEN RESPONSES IN THE ACCESSORY-ORGANSOF MALE RATS DURING DIFFERENT PHASES OF LIFE

Recent studies have indicated that estrogen has a stimulatory influenc e on the male reproductive tract. Evidence includes the presence of me asurable levels of estrogen in the circulation, retention of exogenous estrogen, and presence of estrogen receptors in the male accessory se x organs during prepubertal life. In the present study, estrogen antag onists (CDRI-85/287 and centchroman) have been used to examine this co ncept by antagonising estrogen action at critical stages in the life i n rat. Centchroman or 85/287 administration to 14 day old rats for 7 d ays did not alter gonadal or accessory organ weight. In contrast, in 2 1 day old castrated rats, treatment with either compound from day 28-3 5 of life stimulated an increase in all organ weights. When administer ed to normal rats during the critical phase of transition, i.e. days 3 0-60 of life, both testis and accessory organs showed an increase in w eight. In contrast castrated rats treated with estrogen alone or in co mbination with 85/287 from days 37-45 of life and sacrificed on day 46 did not show any change, but 85/287 per se markedly reduced the weigh t of accessory organs. In adult castrated rats, the potency of DHT as a promoter of growth was potentiated by estradiol. Compound 85/287 neg ated the estradiol-induced increase. Glycerylphosphorylcholine (GPC)an d sialic acid levels showed about 100% increase, with both high and lo w doses of 85/287 (treated from 30-60 days of life), However, centchro man (CDRI-67/20) was less potent in this regard. The effect of estroge n antagonists in relation to epididymal physiology during different ph ases of life in the rat is discussed.