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Increased testicular growth of Tasmanian Merino ram lambs treated with antisera to oestrogens

Summary. Passive immunization against oestrone and oestradiol increased the rate of testicular growth (P < 0·01) without a statistically significant change in the concentrations of LH and FSH at the time of measurement. Although the concentration of testosterone was higher in the group with the largest testes, the difference was not statistically significant. Within groups, the concentration of FSH was correlated with the oestrone antibody titre (r = 0·5), suggesting that oestrone may have a particular role to play in the feedback control of FSH release in the ram; in addition, the concentration of testosterone was correlated with that of LH (r = 0·65).

The data indicate a role of oestrogens in the control of testicular growth and are compatible with earlier reports that the testes of Merino lambs grow more quickly when gonadal feedback is reduced.