MEASUREMENT OF GONADOTROPHINS, TESTOSTERONE, Δ4ANDROSTENEDIONE AND DIHYDROTESTERONE IN IDIOPATHIC OLIGOSPERMIA

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Abstract
Basal concentrations of FSH [follitropin] LH [lutropin], testosterone, .DELTA.4 androstenedione and dihydrotestosterone, together with FSH and LH responses to single injections of LHRH [luliberin] were determined in 84 patients with oligospermia and in 27 normal men. LHRH responses were heterogeneous and indicate that various disorders might cause this syndrome. In 6 cases there appeared to be an isolated deficiency in spermatogenesis, as indicated by an increased FSH response, while the LH response was normal as were the testicular hormone concentrations. In 20 cases a concomitant disorder of Leydig cell function and spermatogenesis is suggested as indicated by increased FSH and LH responses and decreased concentrations of testosterone and .DELTA.4 androstenedione (6) or concentrations at the lower limit of normal (14). In 5 cases a hypothalamic and/or pituitary disturbance may be accepted on the basis of normal or decreased basal concentrations and decreased responses to LHRH with decreased concentrations of testosterone and .DELTA.4 androstenedione. In 37 cases, oligospermia was not associated with any modification of basal gonadotropin concentrations or response to LHRH when compared with normal subjects.