Abstract
The discharge of testicular ascorbic acid into spermatic venous blood was examined in intact and methylenedianiline-treated dogs. An intravenous injection of human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG, 20iu or 40iu/kg) to intact dogs produced a marked increase in the discharge of ascorbic acid as well as in the secretion of 17-oxosteroids from the testis within 15 minutes after the injection. However, neither of these events occurred when methylenedianiline (20mg or 60mg/kg) was given beforehand, while the administration of methylenedianiline (60mg/kg) after HCG (40iu/kg) had been injected failed to abolish an increased discharge of ascorbic acid induced by HCG, although it brought about a substantial inhibition of the increased secretion of testicular 17-oxosteroids. From these results, it is suggested that HCG markedly stimulates the discharge of testicular ascorbic acid, and ascorbic acid in the testicular tissue is closely linked with biosynthetic mechanism of androgens.
