Skip to main content
Log in

Ultrastructural modifications of the testes and accessory sex glands of genetically dwarf mice after treatment with human chorionic somatomammotropin

  • Published:
Journal of Endocrinological Investigation Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We have studied the effects of treatment with human chorionic somatommatropin (hCS) in the dwarf mouse on the weight and ultrastructure of the testes and accessory sex glands. We used animals of the Snell-Bagg (dw/dw) strain, whose hypophyses secrete neither prolactin nor growth hormone. The effects found were compared with those produced by a similar treatment with ovine prolactin. The administration of hCS causes a significant increase in the wet weight of the testes and accessory sex glands. Ultrastructural observations have demonstrated that hCS is able to stimulate spermiogenesis and the secretory function of the accessory sex glands. Prolactin, as shown in previous reports in the literature, has a similar action on the male reproductive system. However, contrary to the observation after prolactin therapy, nomatings were observed after treatment with hCS.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Arezzini C., Fruschelli C., Neri P. Weight gain and histological changes in testis and accessory sex glands in the dwarf mouse treated with human chorionic somatomammotropin (hCS). IRCSMed. Sci. 1:20, 1973.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Tarli P., Arezzini C., Neri P., Fruschelli C., Ricci C. Relazioni di attività e di struttura tra ormone somatotropo, prolattina (ipofisaria e deH’amnios) e somatomammotropina corionica umana. In: Muller E.E. and Piazzi S.E. (Eds.), Atti delle Giornate Endocrinologiche Senesi. Ed. ISVT Sclavo, Siena, Italy, 1975, p. 3.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Neri P., Arezzini C., Fruschelli C., Müller E.E., Fioretti P., Genazzani A.R. Effects of human chorionic somatomammotropin on the male reproductive apparatus of rodents and on placental steroids during human pregnancy. In: Müller E.E., Pecile A. (Eds.), Growth hormone and related peptides. Proc. Third Int. Symp., Milano, Excerpta Medica, 1975, p. 345.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Lewis U.J., Cheever E.V., Vanderlaan W.P. Studies on the growth hormone of normal and dwarf mice. Endocrinology 76: 210, 1965.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Lewis U.J. Growth hormone of normal and dwarf mice. Mem. Soc. Endocrinol. 15:179, 1967.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Grüneberg H. In: Martinus Nijhoff (Ed.), The genetics of the mouse. The Hague, 1952, p. 122.

  7. Sinha Y.N., Salocks C.B., Vanderlaan W.P. Pituitary and serum concentrations of prolactin and GH in Snell dwarf mice. Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med. 150: 207, 1975.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Cheever E.V., Seavey B.K., Lewis U.J. Prolactin of normal and dwarf mice. Endocrinology 85: 698, 1969.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Bartke A. Prolactin deficiency in genetically sterile dwarf mice. Mem. Soc. Endocrinol. 15:193, 1967.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Bartke A., Goldman B.D., Bex F., Dalterio S. Effects of prolactin (PRL) on pituitary and testicular function in mice with hereditary PRL deficiency. Endocrinology 101:1760, 1977.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Neri P., Tarli P., Arezzini C., Cocola F., Pallini V., Ricci C. Effects of pH on conformation and biological activity of Human chorionic somatomammotropin (HCS). Ann. Sclavo 72:663, 1970.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Snedecor G.W., Cochran W.G. Statistical methods, ed. 6. Iowa State University Press, Ames, Iowa, 1968, p. 116.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Arezzini, C., Alessandrini, C., Gerli, R. et al. Ultrastructural modifications of the testes and accessory sex glands of genetically dwarf mice after treatment with human chorionic somatomammotropin. J Endocrinol Invest 2, 195–200 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03349313

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03349313

Key-words

Navigation