Testicular Androstenedione Release Modulated by the Autonomic Nervous System

CAVICCHIA, J.C., PALMADA, N., FÓSCOLO, M., SOSA, Z

Huerta Grande, Córdoba, Argentina

Congreso; First Meeting of Argentine Biology Societies; 2007

Sociedad de Biología Argentina, Sociedad de Biología de Córdoba, Sociedad de Biología de Cuyo, Sociedad de Biología de Rosario, Asociasión de Biología de Tucumán

The male gonads receive nerves from the autonomic ganglia. They converge into the testis along two pathways, the Superior Spermatic Nerves (SSN) and the Inferior Spermatic Nerves (ISN). The SSN arrive to the testis from the Superior Mesenteric Ganglia (SMG) along the spermatic artery, whereas the ISN originate from the Inferior Mesenteric Ganglia (IMG). The objective of this work was to explore if the addition of the neurotransmitters acetylcholine (Ach) and nor adrenaline (NA) into the IMG modifies the androstenedione (A2) release from the testis of adult rats. For that, the already standardized ex vitro system (IMG-ISN-testis) was used. Methods: After the surgical operations, the right testis interconnected by the spermatic verve with the ganglionic plexus was transferred into two separate containers, one for the testis and the other for the ganglion. Ach or NA to a final concentration 10-6 M, were administered in the ganglionic compartment (experimental).Control samples were obtained without the use of neurotransmitters. The incubation medium placed in each metabolic bath was Krebs-Ringer buffer, pH 7.4, at 37ºC. Samples were obtained at 15, 30, 60, 90, 120 and 180 min. The released A2 was measured by RIA. Results: (ng/mg testis/ml; mean ± SEM). With the addition of Ach in the IMG compartment, the A2 significantly increases (P< 0.001). While, by the addition of NA, A2 diminishes (P< 0.001) at all the times. Conclusions: Results indicate that the autonomic nervous stimulation modified the testicular hormonal release.