Sexual maturation in male rats after centchroman and naphthofuran administration during neonatal period

Male rats given a single s.c. injection of 250 micrograms estradiol dipropionate on day 5 postnatal life failed to show maturational changes in the testis and the growth of accessory sex organs was reduced. Similar treatment with two non-steroidal 'estrogenic' compounds viz. Centchroman (500 micrograms) and Naphthofuran (500 micrograms) retarded the growth of the testis and accessory organs but spermatogenesis was not affected. These effects persisted through 90 days. The results of the present study suggest that the two nonsteroidal compounds being 'atypical' estrogens, their effect on hormone responsive centres of brain also is less severe as compared to that caused by classical estrogen like estradiol.