Testicular secretion after pulsatile human menopausal gonadotropin therapy in gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist desensitized dysspermic men.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate Leydig and Sertoli cell response to prolonged pulsatile stimulation with hMG after pituitary desensitization with the GnRH agonist (GnRH-a) triptoreline in normogonadotropic men with abnormal semen analyses.


METHODS
A group of four oligozoospermic men were investigated in the following manner: [1] basal and GnRH-hCG stimulated activity were assessed in all volunteers; [2] a long-acting form of the GnRH-a triptoreline (3.75 mg every month for 3 months) was given, and its effectiveness was evaluated on day 20; and [3] on that day hMG pulsatile administration was introduced (150 IU per 24 hours in 90-minute pulses) with serial hourly sampling (6 to 7 hours) for measurement of FSH, LH, T, E2, and inhibin on days 20, 41, and 90 from the first GnRH-a injection.


RESULTS
Initial evaluation showed normal basal, GnRH, and hCG-stimulated hormone concentrations. Pituitary and gonadal activity were effectively suppressed by GnRH-a when tested on day 20. Pulsatile hMG had no immediate stimulatory effect on gonadal activity (day 20). However, on middle and final evaluations (days 41 and 90), basal T, E2, and inhibin had risen to pre-GnRH-a levels, and, moreover, distinct secretory pulses were seen for these hormones.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings indicate that suppression of pituitary gonadotropin activity with triptoreline combined with pulsatile hMG stimulation offers a new, useful tool for investigation of the male reproductive system in oligozoospermic men.
Adamopoulos
D A
DA
Endocrine Department, Elena's Hospital, Athens, Greece.
Nicopoulou
S
S
Kapolla
N
N
Vassilopoulos
P
P
Karamertzanis
M
M
D000328:Adult; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007265:Inhibins / Q000097:blood; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008596:Menotropins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009845:Oligospermia / Q000378:metabolism*; D011673:Pulsatile Flow; D013737:Testis / Q000378:metabolism*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D017329:Triptorelin Pamoate / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*
D017329:Triptorelin Pamoate; D013739:Testosterone; D004958:Estradiol; D007265:Inhibins; D008596:Menotropins; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone