Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter
  • Published:

Synergistic interaction of testosterone and oestradiol inhibits permatogenesis in rats

Nature volume 269, pages 409–411 (1977)Cite this article

Abstract

ONE experimental approach to male contraception has been the systemic administration of androgenic steroids, but treatment has failed sometimes to induce azoospermia1–4. To overcome this difficulty, androgen–progestin formulations have been tested, but they did not inhibit spermatogenesis completely in all treated men5–8. We thought that this variable response was probably due to the relatively weak anti-gonadotropic activity of both androgens and progestins and the difficulty of controlling precisely the dose of steroids administered. We reasoned that azoospermia might be achieved in every male if steroids were administered continuously and at relatively constant rates and if progestins were replaced by a more potent inhibitor of pituitary gonadotropin secretion. We describe here the results of a test of the efficacy of testosterone–oestradiol formulations administered to adult male rats by means of a subdermal sustained release device. Oestradiol was used because, like testosterone, it is a naturally occurring steroid secreted by the mammalian testis9–13 and because it is a potent inhibitor of pituitary gonadotropin secretion14–16.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Heller, G. C. et al. Fert. Steril. 1, 415–422 (1950).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Heller, C. G., Morse, H. C., Su, M. & Rowley, M. J. in The Human Testis, (ed. Rosenburg, E. & Paulsen, C. A.) 249–257 (Plenum, New York. 1970).

    Book  Google Scholar 

  3. Mauss, J., Borsch, G., Richter, E. & Bormacher, K. Contraception 10, 281–289 (1974).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Paulsen, C. A. & Leonard, J. M. in Regulatory Mechanisms of Male Reproductive Physiology (eds Spilman, C. H., Lobl, T. J. & Kirton, K. T.) 197–211 (Excerpta Medica, Amsterdam, 1976).

    Google Scholar 

  5. Coutinho, E. M. & Melo, J. Contraception 8, 207–212 (1973).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Frick, J. Contraception 8, 191–206(1973).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Frick, J. in Control of Male Fertility (ed. Seiarra. J., Markland, C. & Speidel. J. J.) 230–239 (Harper and Row. Hagerstown. Maryland. 1975).

    Google Scholar 

  8. Johnsson, E. D. B. & Nygren, K. G. Contraception 8, 219–226 (1973).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Baird, D. T., Galbraith, A., Fraser, I. S. & Newsam, J. E. J. Endoer. 57, 285–288 (1973).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. DeJong, F. H., Hey, A. H. & van der Molen, H. J. J. Endocr. 57, 277–284 (1973).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Kelch, R. P., Jenner, M. R., Weinstein, R., Kapland, S. L. & Grumhach, M. M. J. clin. Invest. 51, 824–830 (1972).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Longcope, C., Widrich, W. & Sarvin, C. T. Steroids 20, 439–448 (1972).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Savard, K. & Goldzier, J. W. Endocrinology 66, 617–624 (1966).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Gay, V. L. & Dever, N. W. Endocrinology 39, 161–168 (1971).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Kinlin, H. E. & Reiter, E. O. J. clin. Endocr. Metab. 35, 836–839 (1972).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Walsh, P. C., Swerdloff, R. S. & Odell, W. D. Acta Endocr. 74, 449–460 (1973).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Ewing, L. L., Stratton, L. G. & Desjardins, C. J. Reprod. Fertil. 35, 245–253 (1973).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Stratton, L. G., Ewing, L. L. & Desjardins, C. J. Reprod. Fertil. 35, 235–244 (1973).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. England, B. G., Niswender, G. D. & Midgley, A. R., Jr, J. clin. Endocr. Metab. 38, 42–50 (1974).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Schanbacher, B. D. & Ewing, L. L. Endocrinology 91, 787–792 (1975).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Niswender, G. D., Midgley, A. R., Jr, Monroe, S. E. & Reichert, L. E., Jr, Proc. Soc. exp. Biol. Med. 128, 807–811 (1968).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Amann, R. P. & Lambiase, J. T., Jr, J. Anim. Sci. 28, 369–374 (1969).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. VanDemark, N. L. & Ewing, L. L. J. Reprod. Fert. 6, 1–8 (1963).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Ewing, L. L. & Eik-Nes, K. B. Can. J. Biochem. 44, 1327–1344 (1966).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Berndtson, W. E., Desjardins, C. & Ewing, L. L. J. Endocr. 62, 125–135 (1974).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Chowdhury, M., Tcholakian, R. & Steinberger, E. J. Endocr. 60, 375–376 (1974).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Desjardins, C., Ewing, L. L. & Irby, D. C. Endocrinology 93, 450–460 (1973).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Katangole, C. B., Naftolin, F. & Short, R. V. J. Endocr. 50, 457–466 (1971).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Dziuk, P. L. & Cook, B. Endocrinology 78, 208–211 (1966).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Kincl, F. A., Banauiano, G. & Angee, I. Steroid 11, 673–680 (1968).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Davidson, J. M., Damassa, D. A., Smith, E. R. & Chsung, C. in Regulatory Mechanisms of Male Reproductive Physiology (eds Spilman. C. H., Lobl, T. J. & Kirton, K. T.) 151–164 (Excerpta Medica, Amsterdam, 1976).

    Google Scholar 

  32. Briggs, M. & Briggs, M. Nature 252, 585–586 (1974).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Reproductive Biology, Department of Population Dynamics, Johns Hopkins University, School of Hygiene and Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, 21205

    L. L. EWING

  2. Department of Zoology, University of Texas, Austin, Texas, 78712

    C. DESJARDINS

  3. Department of Anatomy, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia

    D. C. IRBY

  4. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, Canada

    B. ROBAIRE

Authors
  1. L. L. EWING
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. C. DESJARDINS
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. D. C. IRBY
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. B. ROBAIRE
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

EWING, L., DESJARDINS, C., IRBY, D. et al. Synergistic interaction of testosterone and oestradiol inhibits permatogenesis in rats. Nature 269, 409–411 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1038/269409a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/269409a0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing