Feedback control of FSH secretion in the male rat

Site of feedback control of FSH secretion in the male rat was studied by measuring changes in serum LH, FSH and hypothalamic LH-RH by radioimmunoassay in rats after castration and after 500 rad X-irradiation to the testis. The rise in serum LH and FSH in castrated animals was associated with a significant fall in hypothalamic LH-RH 16 and 24 days after castration. Serum FSH rose significantly after X-irradiation without a significant change in serum LH or hypothalamic LH-RH content up to 30 days after irradiation. When pituitary halves from X-irradiated animals were incubated in vitro in the presence or absence of synthetic LH-RH, there was a significant rise in FSH (but not LH) released in the incubation medium in the absence of added LH-RH. The response of the pituitaries to LH-RH was, however, not different between control and irradiated rats. It is concluded that the testicular FSH-inhibitory substance acts predominantly at the pituitary gland on the LH-RH independent release of FSH.