Abstract
The influence of the dopaminergic tubero-infundibular tract on the central control of the develop-ment of reproductive organs was studied in male rats injected intraventricularly with 6-hydroxy-dopamine (6-OHDA). The animals were treated with 6-OHDA at 43 days of age, and sacrificed at 64 or 76 days of age.
At 64 days of age, the bodies, testes, ductus deferentes, glands of ductus deferens, seminal vesicles, coagulating glands, ventral prostates, preputial glands and penises were lighter in weight in the group treated with 6-OHDA than those in the sham-operated control group. The weight of the seminal vesicles, coagulating glands and ventral prostates per body weights were lighter in the group treated with 6-OHDA than those in the sham-operated control at 64 days of age. At 76 days of age, the development of the testes and all other reproductive organs in the group treated with 6-OHDA were almost normal, and some of them showed higher values in their weights per body weights than those of the intact control.
It was concluded that the depletion of catecholamine neurons in the central nervous system caused the underdevelopment of reproductive organs in male rats. It is noted, however, that the effects of 6-OHDA on the reproductive organs were not recognized 33 days after the treatment, even it was reported that it has a long lasting effect on catecholamine neurons.
