Abstract
Six patients affected by Klinefelter’s syndrome (KS) were treated with testosterone propionate (TP) 100 mg im daily for 4 days and one month later the same patients received dihydrotestosterone propionate (DHTP) 100 mg im daily for 4 days. Plasma levels of LH, FSH, PRL, testosterone (T) and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) have been measured in these patients for8 days during and afterTP and DHTP treatment. TP administration reduced LH levels only transiently, while a more prolonged reduction was observed for FSH. DHTP administration produced a late and transient reduction of LH and a very late reduction of FSH. PRL levels increased significantly during and after TP administration. Our data suggest that in Klinefelter patients: i) DHT is less effective than T in suppressing gonadotropin concentrations, ii) the increased PRL levels observed during and afterTP administration are not due to a pure androgenic effect, but are probably related to an increased conversion rate of T to estradiol.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Capell P.T., Paulsen C.A., Derleth D., Skoglund R., Plymate S. The effect of short-term testosterone administration on serum FSH, LH and testosterone levels: evidence for selective abnormality in LH control in patients with Klinefelter’s syndrome. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 37:752, 1973.
Wang C., Baker H.W.G., Burger H.G., de Kretser D.M., Hudson B. Hormonal studies in Klinefelter’s syndrome. Clin. Endocrinol. (Oxf.) 4: 399, 1975.
Fukutani K., Isurugu K., Takayasu H., Wakabayashi K., Tamaoki B. Effects of depot testosterone therapy on serum levels of luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone in patients with Klinefelter’s syndrome and hypogonado-tropic eunuchoidism. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 39: 856, 1974.
Forti G., Borghi A., Giusti G., Pazzagli M., Giannotti P., Mannelli M., Fusi S., Serio M. Klinefelter’s syndrome: effects of short-term testosterone administration on hypothalamic pituitary axis function. J. Endocrinol. Invest. 1: 239, 1978.
Hagen C., McNeilly A.S., Arroe M., Emmertsen K., Fro-Iand A. Prolactin levels in gynaecomastia related to Klinefelter’s syndrome. Lancet 2: 57, 1974.
Forti G., Giusti G., Borghi A., Pazzagli M., Fiorelli G., Calabresi E., Mannelli M., Bassi F., Giannotti P., Fusi S., Serio M. Klinefelter’s syndrome: a study of its hormonal plasma pattern. J. Endocrinol. Invest. 1:149, 1978.
Burman K.D., Dimond R.C., Noel G.L., Earl J.M., Frantz A.G., Wartofsky L. Klinefelter’s syndrome: examination of thyroid function and the TSH and PRL responses to Thyrotropin-Releasing-Hormone, prior to and after testosterone administration. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 41:1161, 1975.
Spitz I.M., Zylber E., Cohen H., Almaliach U., Leroith D. Impaired prolactin response to Thyrotropin-Releasing-Hormone in isolated gonadotropin deficiency and exaggerated response in primary testicular failure. J. Endocrinol. Metab. 48: 941, 1979.
Winters S.J., Sherins R., Loriaux L.D. Studies on the role of sex steroids in the feed-back control of gonadotropin concentrations in men. III. Androgen resistance in primary gonadal failure. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 48: 553, 1979.
Bassi F., Giusti G., Borsi L., Cattaneo S., Giannotti P., Forti G., Pazzagli M., Vigiani C., Serio M. Plasma androgens in women with hyperprolactinaemic amenorrhea. Clin. Endocrinol. (Oxf.) 6: 5, 1977.
Forti G., Pazzagli M., Calabresi E., Fiorelli G., Serio M. Radioimmunoassay of plasma testosterone. Clin. Endocrinol. (Oxf.) 4: 513, 1975.
Pazzagli M., Forti G., Cappellini A., Serio M. Radioimmunoassay of plasma dihydrotestosterone in normal and hypogonadal men. Clin. Endocrinol. (Oxf.) 4: 513, 1975.
Loriaux D.L., Vigersky R.A., Marynick S.P., Janick J.J., Sherins R. Androgen and estrogen effects in the regulation of LH in man. In: Troen P., Nankin H.R. (Eds.), The testis in normal and infertile men. Raven Press, New York, 1977, p. 213.
D’Agata R., Gulizia S., Vicari E., Aliffi A., Polosa P. Effects of androgens on prolactin (PRL) release in humans. Acta Endocrinol. (Kbh.) 90: 409, 1979.
Spitz I.M., Halperin Y., Shilo S., Leroith D., Zylber-Haran E., Livshin Y., Laufer N., Shenker J. Clomiphene attenuates the exaggerated prolactin response to Thyrotropin-Relasing-Hormone and meto-clopramide occurring in primary testicular failure. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 52: 289, 1981.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Forti, G., Vannucchi, P.L., Borghi, A. et al. Effects of pharmacological doses of testosterone and dihydrotestosterone on the hypothalamic-pituitary axis function of Klinefelter patients. J Endocrinol Invest 6, 297–300 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03347593
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03347593