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Undetectable Inhibin B Serum Levels in Men after Testicular Irradiation¹

Departments of Growth and Reproduction (P.M.P., A.-M.A., N.E.S.) and Oncology (P.M.P., M.P., G.D.), Finsencenter, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Dr. Peter Meidahl Petersen, Department of Growth and Reproduction, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, 9 Blegdamsvej, Copenhagen, Denmark.

A group of men treated with testicular irradiation for carcinoma in situ in the remaining testis after orchidectomy for unilateral testicular germ cell cancer was used as a model to study of the effect of selective eradication of germ cells on the levels of serum inhibin B in the human male.

Thirteen men with verified spermatogenesis and detectable preirradiation levels of serum inhibin B (median, 55; range, 23–193 pg/mL) were investigated before and after testicular irradiation (14–20 Gy). All patients had undetectable levels of inhibin B 2–12 months (median, 5 months) after radiotherapy (<20 pg/mL). Correspondingly, serum FSH increased in all men after radiotherapy [from a median of 9.6 (range, 3.0–24) IU/L to a median of 28 (range, 15–70) IU/L); P < 0.001]. Histological investigation showed a Sertoli cell-only pattern in all patients after radiotherapy. Neither LH nor testosterone showed a significant decrease after radiotherapy.

Our data indicate that inhibin B production sufficient to maintain detectable serum levels in adults requires spermatogenic activity.

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