Effects of gold on testicular steroidogenic and gametogenic functions in immature male albino rats.

Abstract The present study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of gold chloride, a metallic earth salt, on steroidogenic and gametogenic functions of testis in immature rats. Immature rats of Wistar strain, were injected (s.c.) with gold chloride at the dose of 0.3 mg and 0.5 mg/kg body weight/day for 26 days. All the treated animals along with the vehicle-treated controls were sacrificed 24 hours after last injections. Testicular steroidogenic activity was evaluated by measuring the activities of two steroidogenic key enzymes, Δ 5 -3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (Δ 5 -3β-HSD) and 17-β hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17-β HSD). Gametogenic capacity was determined by counting the number of germ cells at stage VII of seminiferous cycle. Plasma levels of testosterone (T) was measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA). Administration of gold chloride at a dose of 0.3 mg/ kg body weight for 26 days led to insignificant changes of testicular Δ 5 -3β-HSD,17β-HSD activities and gametogenesis along with plasma T. In contrast 0.5 mg gold chloride treatment for 26 days caused a significant increase in plasma T (p 5 -3β-HSD activity (p