Castration of male rats immediately afterbirth, which induces a permanent femininization of reproductive function, resulted in a marked reduction in the weight and total organ content of norepinephrine in the vasa deferentia as measured before and after sexual maturation. The norepinephrine fall was about 3-fold greater than after castration of adult animals. Androgenìzation of female rats by a single injection of testosterone propionate on the 5th day post partum did not affect uterine weight, but significantly lowered total organ content of norepinephrine when measured before and after sexual maturation. It is suggested that the vasa deferentia and uterus contain a population of adrenergic nerves, probably identical with or part of the system of ‘short adrenergic neurons’ that constitute a separate target system for those humoral factors which determine the pattern of development of the reproductive tract by influencing the early differentiation of the hypothalamus.

Keywords:
Neonatal androgenization, Neonatal castration, Reproductive tract, Norepinephrine
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© 1974 S. Karger AG, Basel
1974
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