Testosterone pellets were implanted into testes of immature intact and of hypophysectomized rats. Ten to twenty days later testes with testosterone pellets were larger than the contralateral testes, confirming earlier reports of a local maintenance effect. When testosterone-treated gonads were compared with initial and terminal controls, it was obvious that testosterone retarded regression of testes in hypophysectomized rats, but also retarded growth of testes in intact rats. Absorption of hormone from 15% testosterone pellets was more rapid during the first 10 days after implantation. Estradiol (5%) pellets had no localized effect when placed in testes of intact rats. In control experiments testosterone, or estradiol pellets were used in the rectus abdominis, or cholesterol pellets in the testis.

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