Resistance of the male gonad to a high galactose diet

Rats were fed a 50% galactose diet during pregnancy and nursing, and the testes were later examined and hormone levels determined in male offspring. Exposure to galactose for various periods during pregnancy, throughout the entire gestation, or postnatally to nursing mother until pups were 5 wk of age produced no significant differences from control testicular weight, seminiferous tubular diameter, or microscopic appearance of the testis when the offspring became adult (66 or 127 d). Serum luteinizing hormone, follicle stimulating hormone, and testosterone levels were determined 127 d postnatally and no significant differences from controls were observed in any of the treatment groups. Blood galactose-1-phosphate levels in animals receiving the 50% galactose diet were comparable to levels observed in human galactosemia. The resistance of the rat testis to a high galactose diet is consistent with the infrequency of testicular insufficiency in human galactosemia, and contrasts with the prenatal female gonadal sensitivity to galactose previously demonstrated in the rat and the high frequency of ovarian failure in human galactosemia.