Neuroendocrine control of the gonadotropic function of the hypophysis in experimental diabetes

1. Development of experimental diabetes in male rats is associated with reductions in the blood T concentration and in the number of nuclear androgen receptors in the adenohydraphysis. Blood LH and FSH levels did not change. 2. The LH-RH sensitivity of the hypophysis in STZ-treated male rats decreased sharply on incubation for more than 1h. 3. Administration of STZ to female rats led to disruption of the estral cycle, accompanied by a reductions in the cyclic secretion of gonadotropins and sex hormones. 4. The development of diabetes in cycling female rats led to a reduction in the concentration of nuclear E2 receptors in the PR and hypophysis, and the number of T-binding sites decreased only in the hypophysis. 5. The gonadotropin wave stimulated by sex steroids in ovariectomized female rats with diabetes was significantly reduced, due to changes in the activity of the LH-RH-producing system.