Morphology of the testis and the epididymis in rats with dihydrotestosterone (DHT) deficiency.

The aim of the study was to estimate morphology in the testis and epididymis of adult rats, treated with finasteride for 28 days (the time period of two seminiferous epithelium cycles) and 56 days (the time period of one spermatogenesis). A 28 days long DHT deficiency did not significantly influence the structure of seminiferous epithelium. After 56 days of treatment, finasteride induced sloughing of immature genninal cells (spermatids and rarely pachytene spermatocytes) into the lumen of the seminiferous tubules. A reduced content of spermatozoa was observed in the lumen of rat epididymis in rats with 56-day-long deficiency. The results indicated that 5alpha-reductase 2 activity is important for the maintenance of spermatogenesis. The decreased content of spermatozoa in the epididymal lumen of rats, treated with finasteride during one course of spermatogenesis, could reflect seminiferous epithelium condition.