Sex hormone-binding globulin response to human chorionic gonadotropin stimulation in children with cryptorchidism, anorchia, male pseudohermaphroditism, and micropenis.
Sex hormone-binding globulin serum concentrations (SHBG) were measured before and after a 5-day hCG stimulation test in 11 prepubertal boys with cryptorchidism, 6 with anorchia, 5 with male pseudohermaphroditism, and 5 with micropenis. Cryptorchid boys had decreased SHBG levels after hCG, by 55 +/- 17% (mean +/- SE) of the basal concentration. Patients with anorchia, who did not show an elevation in serum androgens, did not have decreased SHBG concentrations. Four of the 5 patients with male pseudohermaphroditism had an adequate elevation of serum androgens, did not have decreased SHBG concentrations. Four of the 5 patients with male pseudohermaphroditism had an adequate elevation of serum androgens after hCG, but in only 3 of them did SHBG decrease. None of the 5 patients with micropenis had decreased serum SHBG levels despite normal increments in serum androgens. The administration of a long-acting preparation of testosterone to sexually infantile subjects produce a similar decrease in the SHBG concentration. This change in SHBG concentration after hCG or testosterone in prepubertal boys could be used as a convenient test of biological response to androgens.
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D003456:Cryptorchidism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012734:Disorders of Sex Development / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006059:Gonadal Dysgenesis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D006914:Hydroxysteroids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D010413:Penis / Q000002:abnormalities; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / Q000378:metabolism*; D013737:Testis / Q000002:abnormalities; D013739:Testosterone
D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D006914:Hydroxysteroids; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin; D013739:Testosterone