Paulose,C S; Thliveris,J A; Dakshinamurti,K; Viswanathan,M(Department of Biotechnology, 1989)
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Abstract:
We have studied testicular function in the biotin-
deficient rat biochemically and morphologically.
Serum testosterone and luteinizing hormone (LH) levels
were decreased significantly in the deficient rats. Administration
of biotin or gonadotropins to the deficient rats
reversed this decrease in serum testosterone. There was no
difference in the serum cholesterol level between the control
and biotin-deficient rats. A significant degree of sloughing
of seminiferous tubule germinal epithelium was noticed
in the biotin-deficient rat testes. Biotin treatment of biotindeficient
rats reversed this condition whereas testosterone
treatment was without any effect. The development and
maintenance of morphological and functional integrity of
the seminiferous tubules appears to require a biotin-mediated
step in addition to testosterone.