Cryptorchid rhesus macaques: long term studies on changes in gonadotropins and gonadal steroids

We studied the relationship of testosterone (T), dihydrotestosterone (DHT), and 27 beta-estradiol (E2) to FSH and LH in the systemic circulation of six rhesus macaques with surgically induced cryptorchidism at selected times over 420 days. We measured these hormones by RIA and compared their concentrations with those of four sham-operated controls. Midway through the experimental procedure the animals were electroejaculated, and on day 425 the testes were removed and analyzed histologically. The cryptorchid monkeys did not have sperm in their ejaculates, and treatment adversely affected spermatogenesis. For the first 30 days after treatment none of the hormones differed significantly between cryptorchid monkeys and controls. Gonadotropins in three castrated males, however, gradually rose to postcastration levels within approximately 2 weeks post operation. After castration, all three steroids declined significantly within 24 h. Beginning on days 60, 150, 215, 320, and 420 post operation the animals were bled for 5 days on a diurnal regimen. The steroids as well as LH concentrations varied diurnally. The concentration of FSH never showed diurnal variation in any of the groups at any of the periods studied. Concentrations of T and LH did not differ significantly between control and cryptorchid groups at any time. With longer time periods (beginning 215 days after cryptorchidism had been induced), DHT in cryptorchid monkeys was significantly higher than in controls (P < 0.01). Although E2 was significantly lower in cryptorchid monkeys on days 60 and 150 post operation, this difference disappeared with time. Changes in steroid concentrations were not associated with the elevations in FSH that occurred in cryptorchid monkeys by days 60 and 420. Therefore, we assumed that they were independent phenomena. Significant FSH elevations in cryptorchid monkeys occurred only in the fall of the year. Testicular homogenates from cryptorchid and control monkeys produced similar quantities of T, DHT, and androstenedione in vitro. Very little E2 or estrone was found. Although significant amounts of progesterone were quantified in the incubation media of control testes, little or no progesterone was found in media from cryptorchid testes. Similar results were obtained when these steroids were measured in plasma collected from the testicular veins. In testicular venous plasma, 20 alpha-dihydroprogesterone concentrations were not elevated after cryptorchidism. These data suggest that there is similar negative feedback control of gonadotropins in crytorchid and control rhesus monkeys. The absence of dramatic differences in systemic concentrations of FSH between the two groups suggests that the seminiferous tubule does not play a major role in the negative feedback control of gonadotropins in this species or that the tubular component of this control system is not perturbed by the cryptorchid condition...