Year: 1990
Type: dissertation
Abstract: Since the early seventies, chronic hyperPRLaemia due to hypothalamic-pituitary \ndisorders, drug abuse, hypothyroidism or other causes, has been recognized as a cause \nof reproductive dysfunctions in both women and men. Possible mechanisms by which \nPRL exerts its effects on male reproductive functions have been extensively studied \nduring the last two decades, but the mode of PRL action on reproductive functions has \nnot been clarified by these studies. \nMter an introduction on the physiological significance of PRL in vertebrates and \nthe possible molecular processes involved in PRL action (chapter I), experimental \nmodels are discussed to study the effects of hyperPRLaernia on male reproductive \nfunctions in the rat (chapter II). This animal was used in the experiments presented in \nthis thesis, because of the resemblance between the effects of hyperPRLaernia observed \nin rats and humans. During the experiments, the transplantable PRL-secreting tumour \n7315b was employed as an experimental model to induce high serum PRL levels (2000- \n5000 ng/rnl), comparable to those found in humans with hyperPRLaernia-associated \nimpotence. \nPreceding the presentation of the data obtained from the experiments discussed \nin this thesis (chapters IV, V, VI, VII and VIII), male reproductive dysfunctions during \nhyperPRLaernia in the rat are reviewed (chapter III). Subsequently, aims and questions \nwhich are dealt with in this thesis are described.
Author: Adriaan Kooy
Language: English
Subfield: Reproductive Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W179841633