Plasma testosterone, LH and FSH during the first 24 hours after surgical operations

Abstract

A statistically significant increase of plasma LH was observed at the end of the surgical operations. Premedication did not influence plasma testosterone, LH or FSH concentrations in samples taken 1h later. The concentrations of testosterone were essentially unchanged until 4.5 h after the end of the operations. Between 4.5 and 10.5 h postoperatively there was a significant decrease of both testosterone and LH concentrations in plasma. After that time LH was restored to normal concentrations while the decrease in testosterone persisted throughout the observation period of 24 h. There was no change in plasma FSH concentrations. The hormone concentrations were compared to the patients' own preoperative values as well as to diurnal levels of two healthy male hospital employees working and sleeping in the same ward as the patients. No great diurnal variation was observed in any of the hormones studied. It was concluded that the sequence of events was general anaesthesia, LH increase, surgical trauma and concomitant LH and testosterone decrease. In some cases general anaesthesia was followed by a decrease in plasma testosterone. In most cases an increase occurred 1h after surgery as compared with the post-anaesthetic levels. Decreased testosterone concentrations were seen in a patient with perforated gastric ulcer; partial gastrectomy caused a further decrease.