Effects of prior androgen exposure upon adrenal function in maturing rats

Gonadectomy in the newborn produced an elevated or “female” pattern of serum corticosterone levels when basal levels of corticosterone (B) were measured at the trough and peak of the daily rhythm and when the response to a 2 minute ether stress was recorded after weaning age. Administration of 1.25 mg testosterone propionate (TP) at two days of age did not significantly alter corticosterone patterns in intact males but did prevent the rise in serum B noted in gonadectomized (Gondx) males. In contrast with oil-injected females, females androgenized with 1.25 mg TP showed precocious vaginal opening,persistent estrous and a failure of serum B to become elevated at noon on the day of vaginal opening. Gonadectomy at weaning age had no effect on basal levels of B but there was a more rapid elevation of B after ether stress in Gondx males. By 30 minutes post-stress, the levels of B were the same in both groups. Gonadectomy at 60 days of age had no effect on B levels except for a transient decrease in B at 8 p.m. one week after surgery. The stress response was also normal in castrated males. It can be concluded that early androgen exposures does alter the functional properties of the adrenal but that continued secretion of androgen is not necessary to maintain adrenal function at a “male” level in adults.