The Effect of Growth Hormone Administration on Testicular Response During Gonadotropin Therapy in Subjects With Combined Gonadotropin and Growth Hormone Deficiencies
Abstract
To evaluate the effect of growth hormone on testicular response to human chorionic gonadotropins (hCG) in vivo in humans, we selected patients with combined deficits of GH and gonadotropins who were in substitution treatment with both GH (from the time of diagnosis) and gonadotropins (from the time of induction of puberty). Testicular response to gonadotropin therapy was then evaluated during and six months after the cessation of GH treatment. Blood samples were collected before and 2, 4 and 6 days after hCG administration. hCG responses were calculated and expressed as the areas under the response curve. We studied four hypogonadotropic patients (aged 18-19 years) with associated GH deficiency. Their gonadotropin treatment consisted of hCG 1,500 IU every six days, and FSH 75 IU every three days. The GH therapy replacement consisted of 4 IU thrice weekly. Testosterone, androstenedione, 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone and estradiol were measured. In all subjects the testosterone area during GH treatment was significantly higher compared to the testosterone area obtained without GH administration (2993 +/- 1091 vs 2310 +/- 751; M +/- SD; p < 0.04). The androstenedione area followed a similar pattern (708 +/- 377 vs 402 +/- 248; M +/- SD; p < 0.05). The 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone area, on the contrary, was significantly higher during GH withdrawal (542 +/- 307 vs 235 +/- 190; M +/- SD; p < 0.05). As far as the estradiol area is concerned, no significant differences were found (22,860 +/- 10,082 vs 25,697 +/- 13,640; M +/- SD). In conclusion, GH administration seems to improve testosterone production induced by human chorionic gonadotropins.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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rhGH therapy increases HCG-induced testosterone secretion in hypopituitary boys and adults.
“Previous studies demonstrated that rhGH therapy increased HCG-induced testosterone secretion in hypopituitary boys (25, 26) and adults (7).”
From Growth Hormone Is Beneficial for Induction of Spermatogenesis in Adult Patients With Congenital Combined Pituitary Hormone Deficiency (2022) · cites this paper as [26]
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Background
- Authors
- Balducci, R., Toscano, V., Mangiantini, A., Bianchi, P., Guglielmi, R., & Boscherini, B.
- Affiliations
- Sapienza University of Rome (IT)
- Corresponding author
- Balducci, Rina
- Venue
- Acta Endocrinologica
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press (OUP)
- Published
- 1993-01
- Volume
- 128
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 19-23
- ISSN
- 0804-4643 (ISSN-L)
- 1479-683X
- OpenAlex
- W2082445013
- Cited by
- 28
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2023: 1 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 1 · 2016: 1 · 2014: 2 · 2013: 1
- FWCI
- 0.30
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- European Journal of Endocrinology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Growth Hormone and Insulin-like Growth Factors
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Reproductive Medicine › Hypothalamic control of reproductive hormones
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Hormonal and reproductive studies
- Keywords
- growth hormone deficiency, hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, human chorionic gonadotropin, testosterone production, androstenedione, 17-hydroxyprogesterone, estradiol, follicle-stimulating hormone, puberty induction
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Androstenedione, Estradiol, Gonadotropins, Chorionic Gonadotropin, Humans, Hydroxyprogesterones, Hypophysectomy, Hypopituitarism, Male, Radioimmunoassay, Growth Hormone, Testis, Testosterone, Time Factors, 17-alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone
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