[Mechanism of androgenopoiesis disorder in stress].

Experiments on pubertal male rabbits were made to study the effect of prolonged stress (daily one-hour immobilization and electrocutaneous stimulation for a fortnight) on hormonal and structural gonadal function. The prolonged action of stress was shown to result in the drastically lowered testicular androgenopoiesis. Inhibition of testosterone secretion by the tests was not determined by structural disorders of the hormone-producing Leydig cells which were functionally activated under the conditions described. This activation appears to be related to the production of steroids that are not characteristic for the activity of the intact gonads.