Effect of steroids on the adenohypophyseal gonadotrophes and its relation to spermatogenesis in Rana hexadactyla Lesson.

The exogenous administration of selected steroids to male Rana hexadactyla Lesson was used to investigate the hypophyseal-testicular axis and to determine their influence on the activity of the hypophyseal cell types and the impact of this activity on spermatogenic activity. The frogs were treated as follows: 1) stilbestrol (S) 1.25 in 1 ml Ringer as a single dose or in 1.25 ml Ringer in .25 ml doses every 48 hours for 15 days 2) testosterone (T) 1 mg/ml every day for 15 days; 3) estradiol (E) 5 mg in 15 ml Ringer administered in 1 ml amounts for 15 days; 4) deoxycorticosterone (DOCA) 7.5 mg in 15 ml Ringers in 1 ml amounts for the test period; and 5) cortisol (F) .5 mg in 1 ml Ringer given as a single dose for 15 days. Single dose administration of S resulted in distortion of the histoarchitecture of the par distalis. The split dose of S was ineffective in the par distalis. T reduced the size of B2 cells. In E-treated animals regression of all cell types of the par distalis was observed and increased production of secretory material was indicated. DOCA-treated frogs displayed atypical cellular morphology and cytoplasmic granulations with extensive fibrosis in the par distalis. A regression of all types of adenohypophyseal cells and cytoplasmic degranulations were observed in F-treated frogs. While all steroids cause some changes in cytomorphological features tinctorial affinities and secretory activity the magnitude of change is dependent on the steroid administered. Spermatogenesis was inactivated throughout.