Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin Response to Human Chorionic Gonadotropin Stimulation in Children with Cryptorchidism, Anorchia, Male Pseudohermaphroditism, and Micropenis*

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Abstract
Sex hormone-binding globulin serum concentrations (SHBG) were measured before and after a 5 day hCG [human chorionic gonadotropin] stimulation test in 11 prepubertal boys with cryptorchidism, 6 with anorchia, 5 with male pseudohermaphroditism and 5 with micropenis. Cryptorchid boys had decreased SHBG levels after hCG, by 55 .+-. 17% (mean .+-. SE) of the basal concentration. Patients with anorchia, who did not show an elevation in serum androgens, did not have decreased SHBG concentrations. Four of the 5 patients with male pseudohermaphroditism had an adequate elevation of serum androgens after hCG, but in only 3 of them did SHBG decrease. None of the 5 patients with micropenis had decreased serum SHBG levels despite normal increments in serum androgens. The administration of a long-acting preparation of testosterone to sexually infantile subjects produced a similar decrease in the SHBG concentration. This change in SHBG concentration after hCG or testosterone in prepubertal boys could be used an a convenient test of biological response to androgens.

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