Adult male Wistar rats were treated with a single injection (500 μg s.c.) of a new biodegradable depot formulation of the LH-releasing hormone (LHRH) analogue [d-Ser(But)6]AzGly10-LH-RH (Zoladex; ICI 118 630) to evaluate its potential for inhibiting spermatogenesis. The drug produced a marked (P≤0·05) decrease in serum concentrations of FSH, LH and testosterone with a maximum effect 14 days after treatment. Since striking focal histological changes were seen in the testis after only 1 week, at a time when changes in serum gonadotrophins were minimal, there may be a direct effect of the LHRH analogue on spermatogenesis. Degenerative changes in germ cells as well as Sertoli cells could be observed. Flow-cytometric analysis of testicular cell suspensions showed a significant decline in the absolute numbers of haploid cells (spermatids), tetraploid cells (mainly pachytene spermatocytes) and of the numbers of cells in the S-phase of the cell cycle. This suggests that the drug also inhibits proliferation of spermatogonia and/or primary spermatocytes. Testis weight, serum hormone concentrations, and histological and cytological parameters returned to essentially normal values 52 days after the injection. It is concluded that this new method of administration may have practical and pharmacokinetic advantages for the purpose of reversible inhibition of spermatogenesis.
J. Endocr. (1986) 111, 449–454
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