EFFECT OF CASTRATION AND TESTOSTERONE ADMINISTRATION ON THE LEVELS OF 2,3-DIPHOSPHOGLYCERATE AND ADENOSINE TRIPHOSPHATE IN THE RED BLOOD CELLS OF RATS
N. S. AGAR *
Department of Physiology, The University of New England, Armidale, New South Wales, 2351, Australia
Y. C. THO *
Department of Physiology, The University of New England, Armidale, New South Wales, 2351, Australia
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Inbred Sprague-Dawley rats were either castrated at the age of 4 weeks or injected with a single dose of testosterone propionate within 24 hours of birth. Castration of male rats decreased the levels of red cell 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (DPG) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Neonatal administration of testosterone propionate also reduced the concentration of red blood cell DPG in intact male and female rats.