[Experimental study on changes of sexual hormones in senior males living on high altitude].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the characteristics of testosterone (T) and estradiol (E2) in senior males living on high altitude


METHODS
According to the years of living on 3,100-meter high altitude. 90 senior males who were more than sixty years old were divided into three groups: group 1 (one year on the high altitude, n = 30), group 2 (two years on the high altitude, n = 30) and group 3 (over 10 years on the high altitude, n = 30). Additionally, there was a control group (living on the sea level). Radioimmunoassay technique was used to measure the level of T and E2 in their serum respectively. At the same time, the ratio of T/E2 was also examined.


RESULTS
The levels of T, E2 and T/E2 of the three groups were 42.2 +/- 38.5, 70.0 +/- 31.5, 190.3 +/- 73.5 and 44.0 +/- 42.2, 60.6 +/- 28.3, 144.9 +/- 62.0 and 0.96 +/- 0.19, 1.16 +/- 0.11, 1.33 +/- 0.24, respectively. The levels of T, E2 and T/E2 of group 3 increased obviously than those of the other two groups (P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
The sexual hormone levels in senior males living on high altitude increase along with the living years.
Liang
Jun-Feng
JF
No. 1 Surgery Department, Qinghai Corps Hospital, Armed Police Force, PLA, Xining, Qinghai 810000, China.
D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000531:Altitude; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood*
D013739:Testosterone; D004958:Estradiol