288-291Adrenalectomy resulted in an increase in
metallothionein (MT) levels in testes, caput and cauda epididymis and prostate
of rats but not in seminal vesicles where its levels decreased significantly. Inspite
of administration of hydrocortisone, MT in testes, prostate (1.2 mg), caput (0.3
mg days 2, 8; 0.6 mg and 1.2 mg) and seminal vesicles (0.3 mg day 2, 4; 0.6 mg
and 1.2 mg) remained increased. Thus adrenal insufficiency/hydrocortisone has
no direct influence on MT levels. However, the increased levels of MT can be
related to its ability to protect the cells from free radical damage caused by atrophy
of reproductive tissues in adrenalectomised rats. Exogenously administered hydrocortisone
to ADX rats resulted
in return to ADX state as hydrocortisone
metabolizes (half-life < 12 hr) and hence MT levels remained increased. The observations
could provide a clue for the physiological functioning of the male reproductive
tissue in a state of adrenal deprivation and hormonal supplementation