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Response to a Single Dose of Human Chorionic Gonadotropin in Prepubertal Boys^*

Istituto di V Clinica Medica Generate, I Universitá and Istituto di Clinica Pediatrica (R.B., M.L.M.B., B.B.) II Universitá;00100 Rome, Italy

Address correspondence and requests for reprints to: Dr. Vincenzo Toscano, Istituto di Clinica Medica Generale V^°, Policlinico Umberto I^°, Universitá degli Studi di Roma, 00100 Rome, Italy.

In normal men a single dose of hCG induces an increase in plasma testosterone (T) and 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-0HP) 2–4 h after the injection; after 24–36 h a maximum increase in plasma 17β-estradiol (E₂) and 17-0HP occurs followed by a second surge in T after 48–96 h. The present investigation focuses on the effect of a single dose of hCG (3500 IU/m² body surface) on testicular steroid production in 12 boys aged 13 months to 12 yr. Plasma hCG, 17-0HP, androstenedione (A), T, dihydrotestosterone, and E₂ were measured basally and 2, 4, 24, 48, 72, and 96 h after hCG administration. Plasma hCG was measured using a double antibody RIA technique and steroids by RIA after celite chromatography.

The results show that hCG peaked 2 h after administrationof the hormone and high levels persisted for up until 72 h. Plasma T and dihydrotestosterone increased after 48 h and remained significantly high for another 48 h; 17-0HP, A, and E₂ did not change.

These findings show that hCG stimulation in prepubertal boys induces significant productionof T without affecting the precursors or aromatization product, in contrast to observation inthe adult man, where 17-0HP, A, and E₂ increase significantly.

A response comparable to that observed in children has been recorded in adult males with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism

^* This work is in part supported by Grant 81.00354.04 from Consiglio Nazionale Delle Ricerche, Rome, Italy.

Received September 27, 1982.

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