Influence of Castration and Testosterone Propionate on Cardiac Output, Renal Blood Flow, and Blood Volume in Mice

The cardiac output and renal blood flow has been determined in mice by the adaptation of the 86Rb method of Sapir-stein. Cardiac output also was determined with [131I] albumin. Castration decreased the cardiac output, renal 86Rb uptake and renal blood flow. Testosterone propionate was ineffective after 2 days but within 7 days had restored these values to normal. Extension of the androgen treatment did not produce any further changes. The blood volume of the mice was decreased approximately 10% by castration and restored to normal by testosterone propionate.