title: Long-term administration of gonadotropin-releasing hormone in men with idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. A model for studies of the hormone's physiologic effects.
abstract: The effect of long-term administration of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) for induction and maintenance of sexual maturation was characterized in 23 men with idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. Twenty-two men achieved normal adult male serum testosterone concentrations (575 +/- 33 ng/dL; p less than 0.0001 compared with the baseline mean of 61 +/- 6 ng/dL) that were sustained in 21 men for up to 36 months with bolus doses of GnRH varying from 25 to 300 ng/kg body weight administered every 2 hours. Pulsatile luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion occurred in all 23 men, with mean levels of LH (14.7 +/- 1.3 mlU/mL) and follicle-stimulating hormone (11.3 +/- 1.3 mlU/mL) within or above the normal range for adult men. Mature sperm were observed in the ejaculates of 20 men, with counts ranging from less than 1 X 10(6) to 96 X 10(6)/mL. Increasing responsiveness of the pituitary-gonadal axis to GnRH was shown in 6 men. Men with idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism present a useful model to study the onset and maintenance of reproductive function in men.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007006:Hypogonadism / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000187:drug effects; D012741:Sexual Maturation / Q000187:drug effects*; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000187:drug effects; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D013739:Testosterone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone