Abstract
Higher plasma testosterone (T), LH and FSH at 5 wks of age in the male lamb found by Lee et al and in this laboratory suggest its usefulness as an experimental model for the study of early postnatal testicular activation in the human. Pulsatile LH release and T secretion were more important at 2 and 8 wks than at 4 wks but hCG increased T secretion similarly. Hemicastration was done in 2, 4 and 8 wk old lambs and saline or hCG (500 IU/kg) administered 2 h prior to removal of the 2nd testis. 17,20 Lyase and 3 HSD were measured. In collaboration with doctors M.G. Forest and J.M. Saez of Lyon, isolated interstitial cells were prepared and hCG binding sites, T and cAMP secretion measured. An 8 to 10 fold increase in plasma T was observed 2 h post hCG. T production by isolated interstitial cells was increased by cAMP, choleratoxin and hCG but in hCG pretreated animals, T response was not further enhanced. Higher in vitro responsiveness was observed at 4 wks. These results suggest a transitory increased reactivity of the pituitary gonadal axis in early life.
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Ducharme, J., Savoie, S., Bourel, B. et al. Study of testicular activation in early infancy using the newborn lamb as experimental model. Pediatr Res 12, 1083 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197811000-00012
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197811000-00012