Hormonal treatment after cytotoxic therapy stimulates recovery of spermatogenesis.
Previous studies have shown that treatment of rats with gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogues or steroids either before exposure to procarbazine or radiation or after irradiation enhances subsequent levels of spermatogenesis. We demonstrate here that giving a GnRH agonist after procarbazine injection also enhances spermatogenesis and fertility. We also demonstrate that GnRH agonist stimulated recovery of spermatogenesis and fertility not only when the hormone was administered immediately after irradiation, but also at 20 weeks after irradiation, after the decline in spermatogenesis had occurred. These results suggest that GnRH agonist treatment given to azoospermic men after cytotoxic therapy for cancer may stimulate the recovery of spermatogenesis and fertility.
Meistrich
M L
ML
Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston 77030, USA. meistrich@mdanderson.org
Wilson
G
G
Huhtaniemi
I
I
D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000633:toxicity*; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D005720:Gamma Rays / Q000009:adverse effects; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000819:agonists*; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016729:Leuprolide / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D011344:Procarbazine / Q000633:toxicity*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000528:radiation effects; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D011344:Procarbazine; D013739:Testosterone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D016729:Leuprolide