Acute effects of interferon-alpha administration on testosterone concentrations in healthy men.
OBJECTIVE
Recombinant human interferon alpha (rhIFN-alpha) is used therapeutically in malignant disorders and chronic hepatitis. The present study was assessed to study the effects of rhIFN-alpha on the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular (HPT) axis.


METHODS
We performed a saline-controlled cross-over study in six healthy men, sequentially measuring the serum concentrations of gonadotropins, testosterone, the free androgen index (FAI) and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) after a bolus subcutaneous injection of rhIFN-alpha.


RESULTS
rhIFN-alpha induced a sustained decrease of both testosterone (from 19.5+/-1.88 to a nadir of 5.49+/-0.51nmol/l at the end of the study) and FAI (from 98.7+/-14.7 to a nadir of 32. 1+/-5.3 at the end of the study), whereas concentrations of LH, FSH and SHBG were not different between the two studies.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that rhIFN-alpha affects the HPT axis at the testicular level, either directly or indirectly, and changes feedback relationships between the pituitary and the testis.
Corssmit
E P
EP
Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism of Academic Medical Center, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands. E.P.Corssmit@amc.uva.nl
Endert
E
E
Sauerwein
H P
HP
Romijn
J A
JA
D000328:Adult; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / Q000378:metabolism; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood*; D013997:Time Factors
D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin; D013739:Testosterone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone