Radioimmunoassay of follicle-stimulating (FSH) and luteinizing (LH) hormones by chromatoelectrophoresis

Increased serum FSH levels correlated with low and high sperm counts in male infertile patients

Serum FSH, LH and testosterone were measured in 57 (42) normal men and in 80 male infertile patients. In the former, mean (x) FSH was found to be 2.5 ng/ml with a range (x +/- 2 SD) from 0.25 ng/ml to 5.3 ng/ml, mean LH was 2.2 ng/ml with a range from 0.5 ng/ml to 5.6 ng/ml, and mean testosterone was 540 ng/100 ml with a range from 190 mg/ml to 890 ng/100 ml. Immunoassayable FSH was found to be elevated in 17 out of 42 presumably infertile males with sperm counts below 20 million/ml, and in 5 out of 12 men with sperm counts above 120 million/ml. There was no correlation between testosterone and sperm number, motility, and seminal fructose content. The concurrence of depressed spermatogenesis and elevated FSH levels seems to be a relatively good indicator for the presence of organic disorders of the testis.

Studies on ovarian and adrenal steroids at different phases of the menstrual cycle: II. A comparative assessment of the circadian variation in steroid and lutropin levels during the follicular, periovulatory and luteal phases

In six normally menstruating women, ovarian and adrenal steroids and biologically active lutropin (LH) were measured in peripheral plasma samples collected every 3 h. during a period of 39 h. in the early follicular phase, periovulatory period or luteal phase of three consecutive cycles. The purpose of the study was to assess the influence of the phases of the cycle on the diurnal variation in the levels of different steroids and lutropin following the elimination of the between subject variation. Cortisol, 17-hydroxypregnenolone, dehydroepiandrosterone and androstenedione showed a marked circadian rhythm in all three phases of the cycle. No changes in the levels of cortisol, 17-hydroxypregnenolone and dehydroepiandrosterone with the phase of the cycle were observed when the "morning" samples were considered; however, when the "evening" samples were analyzed, the levels of these steroids were higher in the luteal phase than in the follicular phase. As a result of this increase, the amplitude of the circadian rhythm of these steroids considerably decreased in the luteal phase. The "morning" as well as the "evening" increase observed in the levels of androstenedione during the periovulatory period was not able to mask the circadian rhythm. A circadian rhythm in pregnenolone, 17-hydroxyprogesterone, testosterone, and dihydrotestosterone levels was detected only in certain phases of the cycle. All these steroids showed a circadian rhythm in the early follicular phase. The rhythm of pregnenolone and 17-hydroxyprogesterone was still present in the periovulatory period but was no longer detectable in the luteal phase, meanwhile that of testosterone and dihydrotestosterone was not demonstrable neither in the periovulatory period nor in the luteal phase. Compared to the levels of the follicular phase, an increase in pregnenolone and 17-hydroxyprogesterone levels was observed in the periovulatory period which was followed by a further rise in the luteal phase. This increase completely masked the circadian rhythm in the luteal phase. An inverse circadian rhythm in lutropin levels was detected during the luteal phase. The "morning" values were lower than those found during the "evening" period. No such changes were observed in the other phases of the cycle. In none of the phases studied did the levels of progesterone or estradiol show any circadian variation. The data indicate that a circadian rhythm in the peripheral levels of a given steroid mainly depends on the relative contributions of the ovaries and adrenals and that these contributions exhibit major differences at the various phases of the cycles. It is concluded that - in contradistinction to the situation in the human male - in normally menstruating women, the peripheral levels of steroids of predominantly gonadal origin do not exhibit a circadian rhythmicity.

[Investigations on pituitary-testes axis in males with chronic liver diseases (author's transl)]

In 27 male patients (age 31--60 years) with chronic hepatic diseases--10 of which with alcohol-toxic cirrhosis (ACi), 10 with hepatitic cirrhosis (HCi) and 7 with chronic aggressive hepatitis (CHAH)--total testosterone (T) and total oestradiol-17 beta (E2) in plasma were determined before and after HCG i.m. as well as LH and FSH before and 30 min and 60 min after LH-RH i.v. T, E2, LH and FSH were evaluated by specific RIA. Basal T was significantly decreased in ACi in comparison to normals and to HCi and CHAH. The increase after stimulation with HCG was reduced in all patient groups. Mean E2 before stimulation was altered in none of the groups compared to controls. After HCG there was an inadequate response only in ACi. Before as well as after stimulation with LH-RH, LH and FSH were increased in all patient groups. Our results point to the following: In males with chronic hepatic failure a testes insufficiency often occurs, which may depend on the etiology and the stage of the liver disease. An additional pituitary insufficiency appears not to exist.

[Circadian rhythms in the endocrine system (author's transl)]

In four sections, the contribution reviews data on 24-hour variations of cortisol, growth hormone, prolactine, testosterone, LH and FSH in the human plasma. 1) Experiments on isolated subjects show that the 24-h variation of cortisol is based on an endogenous circadian rhythm which can be independent from the rhythm of sleep and wakefulness. 2) The various pattern each of which has been described in good correspondence by several groups of authors, suggest a series of hormones with a strong circadian component (e.g. cortisol) to those with a weaker (testosterone) or even without a circadian component (FSH). 3) The sleep-wake-cycle influences the phase of hormone rhythms by various degrees; therefore, a uniform reference to sleep time seems preferable to a reference to local time in order to compare several rhythms. 4) The rhythms of cortisol and growth hormone as described in man agree satisfactorily with those in other vertebrate species.

[Studies on the pituitary-testicular axis in male patients with chronic renal failure with different glomerular filtration rate (author's transl)]

In 32 male patients with chronic renal failure (age 22-60 yrs), of which 17 showed a creatinine clearance below 20 ml/min (group I) and 15 above 20 ml/min (group II), plasma levels of total testosterone (T) and total oestradiol-17beta (E2) were measured before and after stimulation with HCG i.m. LH and FSH were evaluated before and after stimulation with LH-RH i.v. Additionally, testosterone binding capacity (TeBG), free testosterone fraction (%FT) and "absolute" free testosterone (AFT) were determined. In comparison with normal persons T was clearly reduced before and after HCG in group I, whereas in group II it was reduced only after HCG. E2 showed normal basal values in both groups, but in group I it was decreased after HCG. Except for LH values after stimulation in group II, both groups showed increased LH and FSH levels before and after LH-RH in comparison with controls. TeBG and %FT did not show any changes in either group, whereas AFT was reduced in both of them. Comparing the results of group II and I we found in the latter decreased values for T before and after HCG and for E2 after HCG as well as decreased values for AFT, whereas LH and FSH before and after LH-RH were increased. There existed no significant correlation between any of the parameters T, AFT and E2 on the one hand and LH and FSH on the other hand. Significant correlations are found between creatinine clearance and T, AFT, LH and FSH. The results indicate a primary defect of the testis which gradually depends on the degree of renal insufficiency, but with well working feed-back mechanism. The possibility of an additional central regulation defect in the sense of a relative autonomy of the hypophyseal gonadotropin secretion is discussed.

Fanconi's anemia. II. Are multiple endocrine insufficiencies a substantial part of the disease?

Three children with Fanconi's anemia belonging to a family where 6 children had the disease were investigated. One child had growth hormone deficiency, a second child showed subnormal response of testosterone to gonadotropin stimulation and the third child had a missing insulin release following arginine. This report shows that growth hormone deficiency is not necessarily liniked with Fanconi's anemia when it occurs in a family. Multiple endocrine insufficiencies do no appear to be part of the disease.

Serum testosterone determination by mass fragmentography

A mass fragmentographic reference method for the determination of plasma or serum testosterone is described. A fixed amount of [4--14C]testosterone (usually 10 ng) is added to a fixed amount of serum (usually 1 ml) and extracted with ether. The ether extract is purified by means of thin-layer chromatography. The purified testosterone is converted into the di-trimethylsilyl derivative by treatment with trimethylsilylimidazole. The amount of unlabeled testosterone is determined from the ratio between the recordings at m/e 432 and 434, obtained after analysis with a combined gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer equipped with a MID-unit (multiple ion detector). The two ions used correspond to the molecular peak in the mass spectrum of unlabeled and 4--14C-labeled testosterone, respectively. The relative standard deviation of the method was about 2.7 percent. The method was compared with a radioimmunoassay technique. There was a good correlation and the regression coefficient was about 0.83. A diurnal rhythm in testosterone secretion was confirmed both with the mass fragmentographic technique and with radioimmunoassay.