Abstract
Testicular function was studied in 9 men (18-32 years) who had received irradiation for Wilm's tumour during childhood. The dose of (scattered) irradiation to the testes ranged from 500-900 rads. 7 subjects had oligo or azoo-spermia (0-5.6 million/ml), 6 of whom had an elevated serum FSH level. One subject showed evidence of Leydig cell dysfunction (raised plasma LH and low testosterone concentration). These results were compared to those in 8 prepubertal boys who several years earlier had received irradiation for abdominal or testicular tumours (dose to the testes 500-3000 rads). In all 8 the serum FSH, LH and testosterone were within the normal prepubertal range. Thus irradiation-induced damage to the germinal epthelium in prepubertal boys produces raised FSH levels after puberty but not before it. We conclude, therefore, that Inhibin has a negligible role in the control of the prepubertal hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis and that gonadal control of gonadotrophin secretion changes with sexual maturation.
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