title: Impaired growth hormone secretion and increased growth hormone-binding protein levels in subfertile males.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate GH secretion in subfertile males.
  
  
  METHODS
  Comparing GH secretion to a GH stimulation test in two different patient groups and in a control group.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nine oligozoospermic patients, nine asthenozoospermic patients, and nine age- and body mass index-matched fertile males with normal spermograms.
  
  
  METHODS
  All subjects underwent an IV arginine GH stimulation test.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum levels of FSH, LH, PRL, E2, T, insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), and GH-binding protein were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Basal levels of GH were similar in all three groups and serum GH increased in all groups after arginine. However, there was a significant difference between the two patient groups and the control group characterized by an impaired GH response in the subfertile patients. Serum FSH and serum GH-binding protein were significantly higher in the patient groups compared with the controls. Serum LH, PRL, T, E2, and IGF-I were similar in all three groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrates that subfertile men may suffer from relative GH insufficiency, which could have therapeutical implications.
authors.affiliation: Aarhus Kommunehospital, Denmark.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ovesen
authors.forename: J O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Jørgensen
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kjaer
authors.forename: K K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Orskov
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Christiansen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000378:metabolism*; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D009845:Oligospermia / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D013006:Growth Hormone; C051815:somatotropin-binding protein