Blood-testis barrier in men with idiopathic hypogonadotropic eunuchoidism and postpuberal pituiary failure

Immature-type Sertoli cells in the testes of idiopathic hypogonadotropic eunuchoidism (17-30 years of age) had no specialized junctions. The specialized Sertoli junctions that blocked the penetration of lanthanum were formed six months to two years after hCG treatment (5000 IU twice a week) in patients of hypogonadotropic eunuchoidism. In two patients with postpubertal pituitary failure (one had a ectopic pinealoma, irradiated one year ago, and the other had a pituitary adenoma, hypophysectomized four years ago), the ultrastructural integrity of these Sertoli junctions was maintained. Therefore, it may be suggested that the development of the blood-testis barrier is dependent on gonadotropins, but the maintenance of the blood-testis barrier is not.

Risk Factors for Hypogonadism in Male Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

BACKGROUND

Male hypogonadism is an endocrine disease characterized by low levels of serum testosterone and is closely related to the development of diabetes. The purpose of the present study was to observe the risk factors for hypogonadism in male patients with type 2 diabetes.

METHODS

A total of 213 patients with type 2 diabetes were enrolled and divided into a low total testosterone (TT) group (=75) and a normal TT group (=138). The patients' blood glucose, blood lipids, serum insulin, and sex hormones were measured. The correlations between the patients' metabolic index and sex hormone levels were analyzed.

RESULTS

Compared with the normal TT group, body mass index (BMI), fasting insulin (FINS), and HOMA insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) levels were significantly higher, but the luteinizing hormone (LH) levels were significantly lower in the low TT group (p < 0.05). Correlation analyses found that TT was negatively correlated with BMI, waist circumference (WC), FINS, and HOMA-IR. TT was positively correlated with LH and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH).

CONCLUSIONS

Several risk factors of diabetes associated closely with hypogonadism. BMI, metabolic syndrome (MS), HOMA-IR, and LH are independent risk factors for hypogonadism in male patients with type 2 diabetes.

Carnitine deficiency is associated with late-onset hypogonadism and depression in uremic men with hemodialysis

Late-onset hypogonadism (LOH) and depression contribute to cardiovascular disease (CVD) in male hemodialysis (HD) patients. Carnitine deficiency is frequently observed in HD patients, playing a role in CVD. We examined whether carnitine deficiency was independently associated with LOH and depression in these patients. Twenty-six male HD patients underwent determinations of serum levels of free carnitine and testosterone. Status of LOH and depression were evaluated by questionnaires using aging male symptoms' (AMS) scale and self-rating depression scale (SDS), respectively. Free carnitine and testosterone levels in male HD patients were significantly lower than those in age-matched healthy male subjects. Linear regression analysis showed that AMS scale was positively associated with SDS. Univariate regression analysis revealed that total carnitine (inversely), free carnitine (inversely) and HD duration were correlated with AMS scale. Multiple stepwise regression analysis revealed that free carnitine was an independent determinant of AMS scale. Furthermore, free carnitine was also independently correlated with SDS in male HD patients. This study demonstrated that decreased free carnitine levels were independently associated with AMS scale and SDS in male HD patients. The observations suggest that decreased free carnitine levels could be a marker and therapeutic target of LOH and depression in uremic men with HD.

Lifestyle, metabolic disorders and male hypogonadism - A one-way ticket?

Hypogonadism is more frequent among men with common metabolic diseases, notably obesity and type 2 diabetes. Indeed, endocrine disruption caused by metabolic diseases can trigger the onset of hypogonadism, although the underlying molecular mechanisms are not entirely understood. Metabolic diseases are closely related to unhealthy lifestyle choices, such as dietary habits and sedentarism. Therefore, hypogonadism is part of a pathological triad gathering unhealthy lifestyle, metabolic disease and genetic background. Additionally, hypogonadism harbors the potential to aggravate underlying metabolic disorders, further sustaining the mechanisms leading to disease. To what extent does lifestyle intervention in men suffering from these metabolic disorders can prevent, improve or reverse hypogonadism, is still controversial. Moreover, recent evidence suggests that the metabolic status of the father is related to the risk of inter and transgenerational inheritance of hypogonadism. In this review, we will address the proposed mechanisms of disease, as well as currently available interventions for hypogonadism.

[A case of an aged patient suspected of craniopharyngioma with a chief symptom of eunuchoidism accompanied with panhypopituitarism]

A 78-year-old man with developmental disturbance of the genital organs and eunuchoidism was reported. He also had a high pitched voice, thickness of the lower lip and kyphosis of the thorax. He seemed to be fretful, but his intelligence was normal. Neurological tests revealed bilateral hemianopsia and decreased tendon reflexes. A plain skull radiograph clearly showed an egg shaped calcified mass extending upward from the sella turcica which resembled a ballooning shape. Brain CTs showed a high density round mass which expanded the sella turcica and raised the floor of the third ventricle. The inner part of the tumor showed irregular high density. T1-weighted MR imaging revealed an iso signal intensity, and T2 showed low signal intensity in the mass. These findings strongly supported the diagnosis of calcificated craniopharyngioma. Endocrinological study showed panhypopituitarism caused by the tumor compressing the pituitary gland and the hypothalamus. The main reasons why there were no apparent symptoms of hypopituitarism were because the receptors were up-regulated and secondarily because the thyroid and the adrenal cortical functions decreased while struggling to maintain balance with each other. There was also a possibility that these symptoms might have been masked by normal aging. Benign monoclonal hypergammopathy was also indicated, although we could not find a clear correlation between this finding and others.