Body growth, puberty and undernutrition in the male guinea-pig

1. Male guinea-pigs were assigned to four different groups at birth. The heaviest group of animals was severely undernourished from 21 d of age (weight gain: 1.2 g/d v. 10 g/d for normally-fed animals). 2. At 35, 45, 55 and 65 d of age in normally-fed animals, and at 45 and 55 d of age in undernourished animals, blood testosterone levels were determined by radioimmunoassay, epididymidal tissue examined for the presence of spermatozoa and testes sectioned for rating of spermatogenesis using light microscopy. 3. Sexual maturity in terms of potential fertility (spermatozoa in the epididymis) was reached by all normally-fed animals between 45 and 55 d of age. High birth-weight animals had a higher incidence of the most advanced stages of spermatogenesis than low birth-weight animals had a higher incidence of the most advanced stages of spermatogenesis than low birth-weight ones at the various ages studied. In the undernourished animals spermatogenesis was clearly delayed. 4. Plasma testosterone concentrations were already in the adult range at 35 d and independent of age and birth-weight. The undernourished animals, however, had very low levels. Maintenance of spermatogenesis seemed compatible with low plasma levels of testosterone. 5. It is concluded that the timing of testicular development seems to be determined by the time the animals are born and appears to be unaffected by severe undernutrition from 21 d of age.