Date of Award:

5-1-1978

Document Type:

Thesis

Degree Name:

Master of Science (MS)

Department:

Biology

Department name when degree awarded

Life Sciences:Biology

Committee Chair(s)

LeGrande C. Ellis

Committee

LeGrande C. Ellis

Committee

Raghubir P. Sharma

Committee

Hugh P. Stanley

Abstract

The effects of prostaglandins (PGs) F2α and E2, 3 ',5 '-guanosine monophosphate (C-GMP), testosterone and 2,4'-dibromoacetophenone (DBA) on the contractility of rat seminiferous tubules in vitro were ascertained, measuring contractile frequency, magnitude of contractions and tubular diameter. PGF2α increased the frequency and tonus in a dose dependent manner, but magnitude of contraction was not significantly modified by PGF2α. Frequency and tonus were decreased in a dose-dependent manner by PGE2 while the magnitude of contractions was not significantly affected. C-GMP increased the frequency of contractions and tonus whereas the magnitude of contractions decreased with increasing concentrations. Testosterone decreased the frequency of contractions at low (10-10 to 10-8 M) concentrations, while higher concentrations (10-6 M) of this androgen increased the frequency to near control levels. A similar bimodal trend was seen with respect to tonus of the tubules with a significant increase observed at 10-9 and 10-8 M levels. Solutions of 10-10, 10-7 and 10-6 M produced no difference in diameter with respect to control values. Testosterone also decreased the magnitude of contractions. DBA profoundly decreased the frequency and magnitude of contractions with a similar decrease in tonus.

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