Abstract
Data from rodent studies and the presence of phallic underdevelopment in some boys with isolated hGH deficiency suggest a role for somatotropin in gonadal sex steroid production. To assess this possibility, testosterone (T), estrone (E1), and estradiol (E2) were measured following 2 days of hCG before, during and after 1 yr of treatment with hGH in 14 patients with hGH deficiency. Gonadotropin excretion remained normal for prepubertal children in all individuals throughout the protocol. Four boys exhibited consistently poor T responses to hCG (poor responders) while the data in 5 patients (responders) reflect either the effect of repeated short courses of hCG or a synergistic action of hGH at testicular level. In 5 girls, only small E2 increments were elicited by hCG but E1 levels increased significantly and revealed an hGH-mediated effect. The X ± SEM for T (ng/dl) in boys and E1 (pg/ml) in girls at 72 hr post hCG is shown below. An asterisk indicates significance (p<.05) compared to basal tests. Conclusion: hGH may increase gonadal responsivity to hCG in man but it does not promote increased T in those hypopituitary boys (with normal gonadotropins) who have reduced Leydig cell reserve.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
