A role for nocturnal serum testosterone surge in regulating spermatogenesis in the adult non-human primate

Suresh, R and Moudgal, NR (1995) A role for nocturnal serum testosterone surge in regulating spermatogenesis in the adult non-human primate. In: Endocrine, 3 (7). pp. 487-492.

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Abstract

Adult male bonnet monkeys exhibit nychthemeral rhythms in testosterone (T) secretion but the precise role of this heightened level of T secretion in regulating spermatogenesis is not known. Intranasal administration of microdoses (500 mu g or 250 mu g/day) of Norethisterone (IN-NET) to adult monkeys (n = 6) at 1600 h each day selectively and completely suppressed the nocturnal surge levels of serum T. Concomitant with this was a significant reduction (P<0.01) in serum LH but not FSH levels. DNA flow cytometric analysis of testicular biopsy tissue showed by week 10 of IN-NET treatment an arrest in meiotic transformation of primary spermatocytes (4C) to round/elongate (1C/HC) spermatids and by week 20 there was a complete absence of 4C, 1C and HC cells (with a relative accumulation in 2C cells). The accumulated meiotic (4C) cells at week 10 showed an increase (>80%, P<0.01) in coefficient of variation and a decrease in intensity of DNA-bound ethidium bromide fluorescence, parameters characteristic of degenerating 'apoptotic' subpopulation of germ cells. While two monkeys exhibited acute oligozoospermia 4 became azoospermic by 20 weeks of IN-NET treatment. A complete, qualitative reversal in the regressive changes in spermatogenesis and near-normal sperm output were apparent at the end of a 20-week recovery phase. These data demonstrate that prolonged, selective suppression of nocturnal surge levels of serum T secretion exerts a primary effect on meiosis in spermatogenesis leading to oligo/azoospermic status in adult bonnet monkeys.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Additional Information:	Copyright of this article belongs to Stockton Press.
Keywords:	Androgen;Rhythms;Spermatogenesis;Meiosis;Spermatid;Monkey
Department/Centre:	Division of Biological Sciences > Molecular Reproduction, Development & Genetics (formed by the merger of DBGL and CRBME)
Date Deposited:	08 Apr 2009 07:26
Last Modified:	19 Sep 2010 05:29
URI:	http://eprints.iisc.ernet.in/id/eprint/19626

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