Studies on testosterone level in female mature rabbits

This work was done to investigate the presence and origin of testosterone [T]T in the plasma of female mature rabbits. T was found to be present in a concentration of 0.129 ng/100 ml plasma. Intravenous [IV] injection of human chorionic gonadotropin [HCG] in a dose of 1000 IU resulted in a significant increase [P < 0.001 and P < 0.05] in plasma T level I and 6 hours after HCG injection. The level returned to the control value 10 hours after the injection. To study the origin of T in female rabbits bilateral ovariectomy was done in one group of rabbits and bilateral adrenalectomy was done in another group. In both groups, plasma T level significantly decreased [P < 0.05 and P < 0.001] 2 and 4 hours respectively after the operation. This indicates that both the ovaries and adrenals are important source for T production in mature female rabbits