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Abstract
The present study examined the effect of age on various aspects of Leydig cell and Sertoli cell function in Sprague-Dawley rats administered procarbazine. Procarbazine was administered intraperitoneally to Sprague-Dawley rats aged 14, 24, and 60 days in 3 weekly injections of 200 mg/kg. Animals were sacrificed 1 week after the last injection. Severe impairment of spermatogenesis was evident in all animals. Sertoli cell function, as assessed by total testicular ABP content, was not significantly different between procarbazine-treated animals and controls in any age group. On the other hand, procarbazine administration resulted in a 60% reduction in total intratesticular testosterone content in the 14-day-old rats but not in the 24- or 60-day-old animals. Serum testosterone was significantly reduced by 50% in the group of 14-day-old animals but not in the other age groups. Serum LH values were not significantly changed from control levels in any age group. Testicular content of Fe, Zn, Mn, and Cn were unaltered by procarbazine administration in any age group. Since serum LH and testicular cation content were not affected by procarbazine treatment, the significant decreases in serum and testicular testosterone in 14-day-old animals after procarbazine administration may indicate a direct age-dependent effect of procarbazine on Leydig cell function.
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