Effects of hyperprolactinemia on copulatory behavior and testicular human chorionic gonadotropin binding in adrenalectomized rats.

Hyperprolactinemia (hyperPRL) induced by grafting four ectopic pituitary glands under the kidney capsules results in suppressed copulatory behavior, increased testicular hCG binding, and increased adrenal weights and plasma corticosterone levels. To determine whether stimulation of adrenal activity may be involved in the effects of hyperPRL on copulatory behavior and testicular hCG binding, we have examined the effects of four ectopic pituitary grafts in intact and adrenalectomized, corticosterone-replaced (1 mg, three times per week) male rats. Pituitary grafting resulted in significant elevations in plasma PRL levels and had a significant suppressive effect on male copulatory behavior in both intact and adrenalectomized animals. Plasma levels of FSH were suppressed in the adrenalectomized, pituitary-grafted animals but were significantly reduced only in the samples taken just before the rats were killed. In contrast, plasma LH was significantly lowered in both groups of grafted animals 6 weeks after the...