title: Plasma testosterone, estradiol, progesterone and 17-hydroxy-progesterone responses to single-dose stimulation with human chorionic gonadotropin in chronic male alcoholics.
abstract: Ten chronic male alcoholics presenting with hypogonadism but without overt liver failure were examined under basal conditions and after stimulation of the testicular steroidogenesis with a single dose of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG, 2,000 IU im). Plasma concentrations of testosterone (T), 17 beta-estradiol (E2), progesterone (P) and 17-OH progesterone (17-OHP) were measured between 08:00-09:00 prior to injection and then every 24 h at the same time in the morning until the 96th hour following the injection. Controls were 10 male adult volunteers, examined under the same conditions. Four alcoholics underwent a second hCG stimulation after 10 day controlled abstinence from alcohol. Basal plasma T and P were significantly decreased and increased respectively in the alcoholics (p less than 0.001) whereas E2 and 17-OHP were much the same in both groups. The magnitude of the T response to hCG injection was significantly lower in the alcoholics at any considered time (p less than 0.001). The E2 response, too, was lower, whereas the ratio E2 change/T change after hCG was higher. The response peak occurred earlier for E2 than for T both in controls and alcoholics. The mean percent change at 24 h and the mean maximum increase of 17-OHP were higher in the alcoholics (p less than 0.01 and p less than 0.05 respectively). An increase in P after hCG was observed in only 5 alcoholics (responders), while some subjects displayed paradoxical decreases. Abstinence was always followed by an increased T response and a decreased 17-OHP response. The E2 response was unchanged and two P responders displayed an increased response.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
mesh_terms: D019326:17-alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone; D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D006908:Hydroxyprogesterones / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood*; D007006:Hypogonadism / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011374:Progesterone / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood*; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D013739:Testosterone / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D006908:Hydroxyprogesterones; D013739:Testosterone; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol; D019326:17-alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone