Pituitary–testicular function in acromegalic and hypophysectomized patients

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Abstract
Serum testosterone, LH [luteinizing hormone] and FSH [follicle stimulating hormone] before and after i.v. injection of LHRH [luteinizing hormone releasing hormone] were studied in 10 acromegalic men and in 21 males after hypophysectomy. Controls were normal men matched according to age. Compared to the controls, basal FSH was slightly higher and basal LH slightly lower in the untreated acromegalics. The differences were not statistically significant. Serum testosterone and the ratio between basal FSH and LH were significantly lower in the patients. Following hypophysectomy because of acromegaly, the values were essentially unchanged. Hypophysectomy because of a functionless chromophobe adenoma resulted in a significantly lower maximum value of LH but not of FSH after LHRH. Hypogonadism in acromegaly might be a result of imbalance between LH and FSH. Testing the pituitary-testicular function with LHRH in patients with pituitary disorders seems to be of limited value.