The active immunisation of intact adult rats against steroid-protein conjugates: effects on circulating hormone levels and related physiological processes.

Groups of adult male and female rats were immunized against testosterone-3-(0-carboxymethyl)imino-bovine serum albumin or estradiol-6-(0-carboxymethyl)-imino bovine serum albumin in multiple sc and intradermal sites repeated weekly or monthly. In males the antitestosterone titers reached 1:28000 testosterone levels rose but free testosterone fell from 35 to .86% decreasing net free testosterone from 144 to 35 ng/100 ml. Luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) rose increasing testis weights and causing hypertrophy of Leydig and interstitial cells. Testosterone titers rose above 1:20 in only 3 females causing transient increases in total testosterone reductions in percent free and net free testosterone. FSH levels rose causing massive ovarian cysts without granulosa cells. In males estradiol titers rose to 1:2200 reducing percent free estradiol from 10 to 1.4% but increasing net free estradiol without causing any biological effects. Estradiol-immunized females produced titers of 1:500 to 1:20000 total estradiol levels increased 200-fold reduced percent free estradiol and elevated net free estradiol. Only LH levels were increased resulting in multiple follicular cycts. These rat sera exhibited binding properties adequate for use in radioimmunoassays; the biological data may be useful for studies on the etiology of cystic ovarian disease in women.