STUDIES OF ENDOCRINOLOGICAL FUNCTION OF TESTIS

Report 3. Hypogonadism of Adult

Abstract

The effects of synthetic luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LH-RH) on plasma pituitary gonadotropin (LH and FSH) and human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) on plasma testosterone (T.) were studied in eleven adult males with hypogonadism including three cases of Kallmann's syndrome, each one case with history of hypophysectomy at fifteen years of age, bacterial meningitis at eight years of age and bilateral hernia repair at eighteen years of age. All cases had normal karyotype. T. was measured at one hour interval in 180 minutes after HCG administration (intramuscular 10, 000 units) on day 0 and on day 4 before and six hours after HCG administration (intramuscular 3, 000 units) and on days 5, 6, 7, and 8 after HCG administration (daily intramuscular 3, 000 units). Basal T. exhibited prepubertal values in all cases. Short term responses were poor in all cases and on day 4 only three cases had responses, but after day 5, three cases (with history of hypophysectomy, meningitis and Kallmann's syndrome) showed steady increases to normal adult basal values. Basal LH and FSH were low except one (with history of hernia repair) and LH to LH-RH (intravenonsly 100μg) were small but meaningful in five cases and FSH in three cases. A case with history of hernia repair showed high basal LH and FSH and poor response of T. to HCG. Cases with history of hypophysectomy and meningitis, in spite of no responses of LH and FSH to LH-RH, showed steady increases on daily HCG administration. Three cases of Kallmann's syndrome showed different responses as to LH and FSH to LH-RH and as to T. to HCG from one another.