[Interrelationship of thyroid and sex functions in males]

The purpose of this experiment was to study on intact and castrated male rats the aftereffects of administration of different androgens for thyroid function as well as the effect of experimental thyrotoxin toxicosis on sex gland incretion and the hormonal status of castrated animals receiving substitution androgenic therapy. The level of hormones was determined by a radioimmunoassay: Castration was shown to be accompanied by suppression of thyroid function, and the administration of androgens activated it. Aromatized testosterone (but not non-aromatized dehydrotestosterone) enhanced thyroxin transformation into T3 and prevented castration-induced estrogenization. Hyperthyroxinemia in castrated animals was accompanied by an increase in progesterone and estradiol concentrations. Hyperestrogenization increased with a parallel administration of androgen. Negative correlation between TSH and sex hormones levels was noted. During thyroxin toxicosis sex hormones served as modulators of hypophyseo-thyroid relationships.