Secretion of LH in spontaneously hypertensive rats

Weights of testes, seminal vesicles, ventral prostate and pituitary, plasma testosterone and LH concentrations, pituitary LH content and concentration, the LH in-vivo response after LHRH administration (1 microgram), and basal and LHRH-stimulated secretion in vitro were analysed in adult male spontaneously hypertensive (SH) and normotensive control (WKY) rats. Spontaneously hypertensive rats showed: testis and pituitary hypertrophy; seminal vesicle and ventral prostate atrophy; increased plasma testosterone and LH concentrations; increased pituitary LH content and concentration; unchanged net increase of plasma concentrations of LH 15 and 45 min after administration of 1 microgram LHRH; and increased basal LH secretion in vitro with a normal response to LHRH stimulation. These results provide evidence that SH rats show increased LH secretion with a normal response to LHRH stimulation. The coexistence of high plasma concentrations of testosterone with seminal vesicle and ventral prostate atrophy suggest a reduction in the effectiveness of testosterone in these structures.