Effect of an LHRH agonist on pituitary and testicular function in rhesus monkeys

Male rhesus monkeys were given 100 micrograms [(imBzl)-D-His6,Pro9-NEt]-LHRH (LHRH-A), a potent LHRH agonist, s.c. daily for 40 weeks. The first dose of LHRH-A caused acute increases (2-4 h after injection) in serum LH (50-fold), FSH (2 X 5-fold) and testosterone (15-fold) concentrations. Chronic treatment led to a 95% decrease in LH and FSH responses. In spite of a marked decrease in LH response the effect on testosterone response was less evident. Administration of 50 i.u. hCG to control and LHRH-A-treated animals showed that the testicular steroidogenic response was unimpaired by the chronic treatment. Evaluation of the electroejaculated semen at regular intervals showed that there was no consistent reduction in the sperm count of LHRH-A-treated monkeys. Testicular biopsies showed that normal spermatogenesis was occurring in all treated animals, but testicular volume was significantly decreased. These results suggest that, in rhesus monkeys, the pituitary is more susceptible to desensitization by chronic LHRH agonist treatment than are the testes, and that LHRH agonists do not have direct antitesticular effect in rhesus monkeys.