Effects of Massive Doses of Testosterone Propionate upon Spermatogenesis

Abstract

THE RESULTS of the administration of androgens upon the germinal epithelium are still controversial (1). This is due, in part, to the variations in response by the different species which have been used as subjects for tests. Experiments on the rat, squirrel, bird, monkey, and its use in man have produced such conflicting results that it is apparent conclusions derived from observations on one species may be erroneous for another [Moore (2), Moore and Price (3), Wells and Moore (4), Wells (5), Cuyler (6), Heckel (7, 8), McCullagh and McGurl (9), Korenchevsky and Hall (10) and Korenchevsky et al. (11)]. Furthermore, at least three additional fundamental considerations must be borne in mind in evaluating the effects of androgens upon the testes: namely that the response of testicular tissue is dependent upon (1) the state of the other internal glands, (2) the condition of the germinal epithelium prior to treatment, and (3) the dosage and period of time over which the androgens are given.