CARBOHYDRATE METABOLISM STUDIES ON THE TESTIS OF RATS FED CERTAIN NITROFURANS¹

Abstract

Structural doses of one of the nitrofurans (Furadroxyl) have been described (Prior and Ferguson, 1950, Nelson, 1953). Similarities were pointed out between the testicular changes seen after nitrofuran administration and those noted in experimental cryptorchidism or after irradiation. Tepperman, Tepperman and Dick (1949) have studied the glucose metabolism in vitro of the normal and cryptorchid testis. Lethal doses of X-ray were found to inhibit citrate accumulation in the testis of fluoracetate-treated rats (DuBois, Cochran and Doull, 1951). The sensitivity of the mammalian testis to ionizing radiations has been described by Eschenbrenner and Miller (1950). Pituitary stimulation, as measured by adrenal ascorbic acid lowering in the intact rat, was noted after nitrofuran administration (Paul et al., 1951). However, other unrelated compounds (e.g. acetyl salicylic acid) produced similar adrenal ascorbic acid lowering without testicular changes. These studies and those by Friedgood (1951) on hypophysectomized rats have shown that the nitrofuran action is probably not a secondary effect of pituitary stimulation but is directly upon the testis.