Chronic human chorionic gonadotropin administration in normal men: evidence that follicle-stimulating hormone is necessary for the maintenance of quantitatively normal spermatogenesis in man

摘要: The role of FSH in the maintenance spermatogenesis man is poorly understood. To determine whether normal serum levels are necessary for quantitatively spermatogenesis, we first studied effect on sperm production selective deficiency induced by chronic administration hCG men. Then, determined replacement some these After a 3-month control period, eight men (aged 30-39 yr) received 5000 IU hCG, im, twice weekly 7 months. Then while continuing same dosage subjects simultaneously 200 mg testosterone enanthate (T), an additional 6 alone resulted partial suppression mean concentration from 88 +/- 24 (+/-SEM) million/ml during period to 22 last 4 months treatment (P less than 0.001 compared values). With addition T counts remained suppressed degree. Except one who became azoospermic receiving plus T, motilities and morphologies all throughout entire study. During both periods, were undetectable (less 25 ng/ml), urinary comparable those prepubertal children hypogonadotropic hypogonadal adults. We replaced activity four whom prolonged administration. Immediately after administration, was stopped continued receive (5000 IU, weekly) 3 100 human FSH, sc, daily (n = 2) or 75 menopausal gonadotropin, 5-8 second alone, concentrations (34 13 million/ml) values (125 39 million/ml; P 0.001). increased (213 72 ng/ml) rose significantly, reaching 103 30 0.03 alone).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)