Human chorionic gonadotrophin raises serum immunoreactive inhibin levels in men with hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism.
Inhibin is a gonadal glycoprotein hormone involved in the regulation of FSH. To elucidate the regulation of inhibin production we investigated the acute (daily for 1 week) and chronic (9-10 months of follow-up) changes in immunoreactive inhibin, testosterone, LH and FSH levels in the serum of three hypogonadotrophic hypogonadal patients treated first with hCG alone (for 3-6 months) and then hCG combined with FSH (1-5 months). One patient was unexpectedly resistant to gonadotrophin therapy; in the other two, hCG, with or without FSH, caused a rise in inhibin and testosterone, supporting previous observations that LH, as well as FSH, plays a role in the regulation of inhibin or inhibin-related peptides in men.
Burger
H G
HG
Prince Henry's Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, Vic., Australia.
Tiu
S C
SC
Bangah
M L
ML
de Kretser
D M
DM
D000328:Adult; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007006:Hypogonadism / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000188:drug therapy; D007265:Inhibins / Q000097:blood*; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008297:Male; D013739:Testosterone / Q000096:biosynthesis
D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D013739:Testosterone; D007265:Inhibins; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone