This Article Full Text (PDF) Submit a related Letter to the Editor Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Copyright Permission Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by GOOREN, L. Articles by HOOGSLAG, M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by GOOREN, L. Articles by HOOGSLAG, M.

Sex Steroids and Pulsatile Luteinizing Hormone Release in Men. Studies in Estrogen-Treated Agonadal Subjects and Eugonadal Subjects Treated with a Novel Nonsteroidal Antiandrogen

Division ofAndrology/Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital of the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, The Netherlands
University of Nijmegen Nijmegen, The Netherlands
Roussel BV Hoevelaken, The Netherlands

Address requests for reprints and all correspondence to: Dr. L. J. G. Gooren, Department of Internal Medicine, A.Z. Vrije Universiteit, P.O. Box 7057, 1007 MB Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

This study evaluated the effects of estrogens and androgens on LH pulse frequency and amplitude in male subjects. To assess the role of estrogens we compared the serum LH pulse frequency and amplitude between 3 groups: 1) 8 agonadal subjects receiving no steroid treatment; 2) 6 agonadal subjects continuously treated with 50 µg ethinylestradiol/day; and 3) 17 eugonadal men. Mean serum LH levels and LH pulse amplitude were significantly lower in the agonadal subjects receiving estrogens (14.8 ± 5.4 (SD) U/L and 4.1 ± 1.5 U/L, respectively) than in the group of agonadal subjects not receiving sex steroid treatment (35.7 ± 8.4 U/L and 7.3 ± 2.0 U/L, respectively). The mean LH pulse frequency was 7.1 ± 1.5/7 h in the group not receiving sex steroid treatment and 6.0 ± 1.4/7 h in the group receiving estrogens (P NS). The LH pulse frequency in the eugonadal men (3.8 ± 1.3/7 h) was significantly lower than the frequency in both groups of agonadal subjects. The LH pulse amplitude was of the same magnitude in the estrogen-treated agonadal subjects and in eugonadal men (4.1 ± 1.5 U/L and 3.5 ± 1.2 U/L, respectively).

The role of androgens was studied in 15 eugonadal male subjects (who presented for female role reassignment) by determining the effects of a novel nonsteroidal androgen receptor blocker, Anandron, on 1) basal and LH-releasing hormone (LHRH)-stimulated serum LH/FSH levels; 2) LH pulse fre-quency and amplitude; 3) sex steroid and sex hormone-binding globulin levels; and 4) serum PRL levels during an 8-week period. Basal and LHRH-stimulated LH levels and testosterone rose progressively during the first 6 weeks and reached a plateau thereafter, while estradiol levels continued to increase somewhat. The LH pulse amplitude and frequency had increased after 6 weeks (3.1 ± 0.6 vs. 4.5 ± 1.2 U/L and 4.4 ± 2.4 vs. 6.6 ± 1.1 pulses/7 h, respectively). Basal FSH levels were not affected while LHRH-stimulated FSH ievels progressively decreased from 2 to 6 weeks, after which they did not change. Along with the rise of estradiol levels an increase of sex hormone-binding globulin and PRL levels occurred.

From these data we conclude that: 1) interruption of the negative feedback action of androgens on the hypothalamic-pituitary system is a slow process extending over 4-6 weeks; 2) antiandrogens increase the frequency of the hypothalamic LHRH pulse generator; 3) antiandrogens increase basal and LHRH-stimulated pituitary LH secretion; 4) androgens have little effect on the regulation of FSH secretion; the antiandrogen effect on the LHRH-stimulated FSH release might be due to an increase of estradiol levels or the increase of LHRH pulse frequency; and 5) estrogens reduce LH pulse amplitude.

Received October 20, 1986.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				N. Pitteloud, A. A. Dwyer, S. DeCruz, H. Lee, P. A. Boepple, W. F. Crowley Jr., and F. J. Hayes The Relative Role of Gonadal Sex Steroids and Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Pulse Frequency in the Regulation of Follicle-Stimulating Hormone Secretion in Men J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., July 1, 2008; 93(7): 2686 - 2692. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. L. Herrmann, B. Saller, O. E. Janssen, P. Gocke, A. Bockisch, H. Sperling, K. Mann, and M. Broecker Impact of Estrogen Replacement Therapy in a Male with Congenital Aromatase Deficiency Caused by a Novel Mutation in the CYP19 Gene J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., December 1, 2002; 87(12): 5476 - 5484. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				X. Li, E. Nokkala, W. Yan, T. Streng, N. Saarinen, A. Warri, I. Huhtaniemi, R. Santti, S. Makela, and M. Poutanen Altered Structure and Function of Reproductive Organs in Transgenic Male Mice Overexpressing Human Aromatase Endocrinology, June 1, 2001; 142(6): 2435 - 2442. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				F. J. Hayes, S. B. Seminara, S. DeCruz, P. A. Boepple, and W. F. Crowley Jr. Aromatase Inhibition in the Human Male Reveals a Hypothalamic Site of Estrogen Feedback J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., September 1, 2000; 85(9): 3027 - 3035. [Abstract] [Full Text]