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GONADOTROPHIC CONTROL OF TRITIATED THYMIDINE INCORPORATION IN THE GERMINAL CELLS OF THE RAT TESTIS

The gonadotrophic control of spermatogenesis varies with age. Thus, ovine FSH stimulates spermatogenesis in the hypophysectomized prepubertal rat more effectively than ovine LH whereas the opposite is found in the adult (Ortavant, Courot & de Reviers, 1969; Courot, Ortavant & de Reviers, 1971). Gonadotrophic hormones reduce the proportion of germinal cells which undergo degeneration. It was thought probable that this effect was the result of actions of these hormones on the metabolism of germinal cells. We have started to investigate this problem by studying the effects of FSH and LH on the synthesis of DNA by spermatogonia and primary spermatocytes in the rat. It has previously been shown that hypophysectomy reduces the intensity of [³H]thymidine-labelling of the DNA in these cells (R. Ortavant, unpublished data).

Six prepubertal and six adult Wistar rats were hypophysectomized