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GONADOTROPHIN TEST OF THE FUNCTIONAL CAPACITY OF LEYDIG CELLS IN NORMAL AND HYPOGONADAL BOYS
Author(s) -
PERHEENTUPA J.,
DESSYPRIS A.,
ADLERCREUTZ H.
Publication year - 1972
Publication title -
clinical endocrinology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.055
H-Index - 147
eISSN - 1365-2265
pISSN - 0300-0664
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2265.1972.tb00385.x
Subject(s) - endocrinology , medicine , stimulation , basal (medicine) , virilization , testosterone (patch) , leydig cell , pathological , biology , luteinizing hormone , androgen , hormone , insulin
SUMMARY A human chorionic gonadotrophin stimulation test of prepubertal testes was studied at two different dosage levels. Three doses of 500 i.u. or 1500 i.u. were administered intramuscularly at 2‐day intervals, and the plasma testosterone concentration was measured with a competitive protein‐binding technique before the stimulation and 24 hr after the last dose. The test was carried out with the smaller dose in fourteen and with the larger dose in eighteen boys with two clinically normal testes. Ten boys with male pseudo‐hermaphroditism, four with bilateral cryptorchidism, two with the Prader‐Labhart‐Willi syndrome, and one with Noonan's syndrome were also tested. The results, as evaluated in conjunction with the information available in the literature, indicate that appropriate stimulation is obtained with three doses of 1500 i.u. given at 2‐day intervals. Giving the testes enough time to respond is as important as the dose of gonadotrophin. Measurement of the basal concentration of testosterone is of little value. No virilization was observed after this stimulation. The clinical value of the test was clearly indicated by the results obtained in the pathological series.