title: Effect of growth hormone cotreatment with human chorionic gonadotropin in testicular steroidogenesis and seminal insulin-like growth factor-1 in oligozoospermia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the GH synergy with hCG in testicular steroidogenesis and seminal insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) in oligozoospermia.
  
  
  METHODS
  University endocrine unit.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight oligospermic, non-GH-deficient men.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three different protocols spaced 3 months apart were applied in each man: plain hCG protocol: 1,500 IU IM three times every other day; GH + hCG protocol: with the addition of 4 IU SC GH daily 8 days before and throughout the hCG phase; placebo + hCG: substitution of GH by NaCL 0.9%. Blood sampling was performed before and on the 8th day (for 2nd- and 3rd-day protocols) and 24 hours after each hCG administration. Semen was collected three times during each protocol.
  
  
  METHODS
  Plasma for P, 17-OHP, androstenedione, DHEA, DHEAS, T, and E2 and plasma and seminal IGF-1 three times during each study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum IGF-1 levels increased more than threefold after GH administration. Seminal IGF-1 activity was unaffected by GH treatment or hCG administration, showing random fluctuations within each subject without correlation to the respective plasma levels. The incremental response of each steroid under hCG did not differ between the three protocols, apart from increased P levels under GH.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Short-term GH cotreatment with hCG did not affect seminal IGF-1 concentration and had a weak synergist effect on steroidogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Medical School, University of Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Anapliotou
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Evagellou
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kastanias
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Liparaki
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Psara
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Goulandris
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000735:Androstenedione / Q000097:blood; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000097:blood; D004357:Drug Synergism; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004967:Estrogens / Q000097:blood; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D009845:Oligospermia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood; D012661:Semen / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D013256:Steroids / Q000378:metabolism*; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D004967:Estrogens; D013256:Steroids; D013739:Testosterone; D000735:Androstenedione; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D011374:Progesterone; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D013006:Growth Hormone