[Role of the thymus in producing the endocrine function of the testes in mice]

The thymic effect on the mouse gonadal endocrine function was studied. The serious gonadal endocrine dysfunction was seen in mice with genetically determined absence of the thymus. Thymectomy of healthy animals aged 3 days induces similar disorders. Transplantation of the thymus to the genetically thymus-free animals during the first days of the life returns this function to normal. It is concluded that the thymus plays an important role in the formation of the mouse gonadal endocrine function.