Decrease in serum sex hormone binding globulin during human chorionic gonadotrophin stimulation in prepubertal boys

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Abstract
Temporal relationships between steroidogenic and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) responses to hCG [human chorionic gonadotropin] were studied in 27 prepubertal boys: 19 with incomplete testicular descent and 8 with hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism (HH). Nine of the boys with incomplete testicular descent were given a single i.m. injection of hCG and blood samples were taken daily for 5 days. Six of them showed a slight decrease in SHBG concentration by day 5. All the other 18 boys were given four im injections of hCG on days 0, 4, 7 and 10. Blood was taken before each injection and on day 14. In the boys with incomplete testicular descent SHBG concentration decreased by day 14 (P < 0.01). All the boys with HH had an impaired testosterone response to hCG, and SHBG levels did not decrease after hCG. In only 2 of these boys SHBG concentrations were > 10% below the basal by day 14. These boys also had the highest testosterone response of their group. Apparently, testosterone increases in prepubertal boys, SHBG decreases.