Testis functions and sexual potentia in langur monkey treated with a combination steroidal contraceptive formulation

Administration of a combination formulation of danazol (100 mg/day; oral) plus testosterone enanthate (TE) (50 mg/15 days; i.m.) for 30 to 60 days in adult male langur monkeys resulted in the reversible suppression of testicular function without affecting the sexual potentia. Testicular weight and volume decreased significantly along with the mass atrophy of germinal epithelium and impaired morphology of Leydig and Sertoli cells. A conspicuous shrinkage of seminiferous tubules, Leydig cell nuclei and Sertoli cell nuclei was noted. Elevation of testicular cholesterol, total lipids, glycogen and phosphatases activity with the depletion of total proteins, nucleic acid, sialic acid and fructose was noteworthy. All changes were maintained during maintenance dose studies (danazol: 50 mg/day; oral plus TE: 50 mg/15 days; i.m.) for 60 days. Resumption of all measures to normal was evident following 120 days of recovery. It can be concluded that the exogenous TE substitutes the serum testosterone levels to maintain extratesticular androgen actions even after interference by danazol of Leydig cell function along with spermatogenesis inhibition.