Effects of Administration of Testosterone on Vitamin A-Deficient Rats

Abstract

Summary

1. In an effort to find whether the “virtual castration” of vit. A deficient male rats is due to prevention of the synthesis of androgens or to the lack of response of target organs, the effects of administration of testosterone in deficient non-castrates and castrates were compared with the effects on their controls.

The response of the deficient animals was found to be essentially normal. The accessory sex organs in particular were extraordinarily hypertrophied under the influence of testosterone administration even in the face of severe losses of weight.

The evidence obtained suggests that vitamin A deficiency interferes with the synthesis or release of androgens.