Testicular responsiveness to long-term administration of hCG and hMG in patients with hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism.
Steroidogenic responsiveness and amelioration of sperm number and motility following long-term intramuscular hCG and hMG administration were evaluated in 18 males with hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism (HH). The patients consisted of 13 patients with isolated gonadotrophin deficiency (IGD) and 5 patients hypophysectomized at an early or middle pubertal period. Basal serum levels of testosterone and 17 beta-estradiol were within prepubertal range in all patients before the treatment. Serum testosterone levels reached the normal adult male levels within 12-24 months of the treatment in only 2 of 7 younger patients and 1 of 6 older patients with IGD, whereas in all hypophysectomized patients serum levels of both testosterone and 17 beta-estradiol increased to the levels found in normal adult males within 6 months of the treatment. The mean peak levels of serum testosterone and 17 beta-estradiol, respectively, during the treatment were 2.1 +/- 0.8 (SD) ng/ml and 10.8 +/- 4.9 (SD) pg/ml in younger patients with IGD, 1.4 +/- 0.9 ng/ml and 9.7 +/- 5.1 pg/ml in older patients with IGD and 6.0 +/- 1.2 ng/ml and 34.2 +/- 14.8 pg/ml in hypophysectomized patients. Quantitative improvement in both sperm density and sperm motility were found in 4 of 7 younger patients, 1 of 6 older patients with IGD and all hypophysectomized patients, but only 3 of hypophysectomized patients (3 of 18 patients) could become fertile.
Okuyama
A
A
Nakamura
M
M
Namiki
M
M
Aono
T
T
Matsumoto
K
K
Utsunomiya
M
M
Yoshioka
T
T
Itoh
H
H
Itatani
H
H
Mizutani
S
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D006062:Gonadotropins / Q000097:blood / Q000172:deficiency*; D006801:Humans; D007006:Hypogonadism / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007016:Hypophysectomy; D008297:Male; D008596:Menotropins / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011627:Puberty; D013076:Sperm Count / Q000187:drug effects; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000187:drug effects; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D013997:Time Factors
D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D006062:Gonadotropins; D013739:Testosterone; D004958:Estradiol; D008596:Menotropins