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Horm Metab Res 1989; 21(12): 661-665
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-1009314
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© Georg Thieme Verlag, Stuttgart · New York

Testicular Function in Biotin-Deficient Adult Rats

C. S. Paulose, J. A. Thliveris1 , M. Viswanathan, K. Dakshinamurti
  • Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
  • 1Department of Anatomy, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
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Publication History

1988

1989

Publication Date:
14 March 2008 (online)

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Summary

We have studied testicular function in the biotin-deficient rat biochemically and morphologically. Serum testosterone and luteinizing hormone (LH) levels were decreased significantly in the deficient rats. Administration of biotin or gonadotropins to the deficient rats reversed this decrease in serum testosterone. There was no difference in the serum cholesterol level between the control and biotin-deficient rats. A significant degree of sloughing of seminiferous tubule germinal epithelium was noticed in the biotin-deficient rat testes. Biotin treatment of biotin-deficient rats reversed this condition whereas testosterone treatment was without any effect. The development and maintenance of morphological and functional integrity of the seminiferous tubules appears to require a biotin-mediated step in addition to testosterone.

Key-Words

Biotin Deficiency - Testis - Testosterone