Effect of Biogenic Amines on the Endocrine Axis and Esterase Activity of Hamster Testes 1

Abstract

Summary

Pinealectomy reverses the loss of testis and seminal vesicle weights of blinded hamsters. Treatment with moderate doses of serotonin and melatonin does not cause further decrease in reproductive organ weights, or appreciably affect adrenal and pituitary gland weights of blinded hamsters. The seminiferous tubules of blinded hamsters exhibit primarily spermatogonia containing lipid aggregations and numerous lysosomal bodies. Blinded hamsters have significantly higher levels of testicular esterase activity than do control, pinealectomized, and blinded and pinealectomized hamsters. This suggests that the higher esterase activity results from greater lysosomal activity.