title: Heroin addiction: relationship between the plasma levels of testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, androstenedione, LH, FSH, and the plasma concentration of heroin.
abstract: Changes in sexual function and hormone levels are commonly found in subjects addicted to narcotics. In this study we examined 16 male and 3 female addicts who had been taking heroin (H) in the last year in doses higher than 150 mg/day. In these patients, who presented similar clinical problems, we assayed by RIA the plasma levels of heroin, testosterone, (T), dihydrotestosterone (DHT), androstenedione (A), luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) for periods of 150 min, 6 h and 9 h. We found a significant reduction of T and DHT concomitant with higher plasma concentrations of heroin but no relevant changes of A, LH and FSH. T and DHT returned to the initial levels after the decrease of heroin concentration. The GnRH test effectd on a female subject allowed us to make the diagnosis of hypothalamic amenorrhea. In the same patient no circadian rhythms for T, DHT and A were detected.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000568:Amenorrhea / Q000139:chemically induced; D000728:Androgens / Q000097:blood*; D000735:Androstenedione / Q000097:blood; D001667:Binding, Competitive; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000378:metabolism; D003932:Heroin / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D010906:Pituitary Hormone-Releasing Hormones / Q000494:pharmacology; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D010906:Pituitary Hormone-Releasing Hormones; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone; D013739:Testosterone; D000735:Androstenedione; D003932:Heroin; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone