Endocrine Abstracts

Background and objective: Azoospermia is the total absence of sperm cells from a patient semen sample. It could be obstructive or non-obstructive and this is associated with chromosomal defects, infections, gonadotrophins imbalance, etc. in the patient.The objective of this study is to determine the prevalence of secondary testicular failure in azoospermic patients in Plateau State as it is associated with gonadotrophins.Method: Ei...

The Donor Sibling Registry (‘DSR’) is a non-profit worldwide organization dedicated to educating, connecting and supporting those affected by gamete donation, including donors, recipients and offspring. At 25 000 members, the DSR has connected 7000 genetic first degree relatives; hundreds of donors enjoy contact with offspring and thousands of half-siblings interact together.The DSR doesn’t just generate genetically related joy, it also sh...

Recent studies have reported that gangliosides, the sialic acid containing glycosphingolipids, are able to modulate many cellular functions. As reactive oxygen species (ROS) in human semen originate from both spermatozoa and infiltrating leukocytes, we aimed to investigate i) the ability of gangliosides to protect human spermatozoa from hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced DNA and membrane damage and ii) the effect of gangliosides on the production of ROS by ...

It is well accepted that sperm acrosome reaction occurs after the binding of the capacitated sperm to the egg zona-pellucida. This study describes a novel idea regarding the regulation of the sperm epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) under physiological conditions and the relevance to the acrosome reaction. Ouabain, a known Na/K ATPase blocker is present in our blood and in the female reproductive tract. We showed here for the first time that physiological concentrations (...

Previously, we have described an inhibitory role of melatonin (Mel) in the expression of StAR and key steroidogenic enzymes, as well as in the regulation of testosterone production in testes of Syrian hamsters. The goal of the present work was to further investigate the signaling pathway involves in the testicular action of Mel. Thus, Leydig cells were purified from reproductively active hamsters killed by asphyxia with carbon dioxide, and incubated in the presence of Mel and ...

The Syrian hamster is a seasonal breeder that undergoes a testicular regression when exposed to a short day photoperiod (SD, 6 h light per day) for 16 weeks, and a subsequent gonadal reactivation after longer times of permanence in SD. In this study, we investigated the role of melatonin (Mel) and prolactin (PRL), key players in the recrudescence phase, on testicular cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2) expression and prostaglandins (PGs) production during the photoperiodic regression&#150...

Background: For many years testosterone therapy in men was considered to be a risk factor for increasing the PSA level and prostate volume as well as blood count parameters. Objective was to investigate the influence of testosterone therapy on prostate and blood count in men with metabolic syndrome and hypogonadism.Methods: In a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, phase III trial (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00696748), 184 men suffering f...

Context: Low testosterone level in men is associated with the metabolic syndrome (MetS) as well as with depressive symptoms, low vitality and sexual dysfunction.Objective: To assess the effects of testosterone administration on these subjective symptoms, which have not extensively been studied in hypogonadal men with the MetS. Design: randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Setting: academic, ambulatory, referral centre. Patients: 184 men suffering from bo...

Background and aim: Ethnic differences in testosterone concentrations may account for variation in the prevalence of androgen-mediated disorders amongst different racial groups. Previous reports in middle-aged subjects have either found no differences, or a lowered TT and calculated free testosterone (CFT) in South Asian (SA) compared with Caucasian men. In light of this uncertainty and to exclude any confounding influence of age we sought to determine the effect of ethnicity ...

Introduction: Dyslipidemia and impaired fertility are highly related. In animals, statin intake reduces sperm parameters deterioration associated with hypercholesterolemia. However, statin effects on human fertility are controversial. Their intake by hypercholesterolemic patients could reduce circulating testosterone concentration and sperm quality. While recommendations for cardiovascular prevention advocate lowering total cholesterol and LDL-C, atorvastatin, the most prescri...

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is characterized by tissue overgrowth and stromal reorganization primarily due to cellular proliferation and fibroblast-to-myofibroblast transdifferentiation. Given the recently reported beneficial effects of PDE5 inhibitors on lower urinary tract symptoms secondary to BPH this study aimed to investigate the influence of PDE5 inhibition on the prostate at a cellular level. We investigated the expression of PDE5 in the human prostate and demon...

Objective(s): Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) G894T may affect the oxidative stress–response. Our objective was to examine G894T SNP eNOS genotype frequencies and its potential role with sperm motility in infertile men. Through this prospective controlled study in the Andrology Unit, we have enrolled infertile (n=70) and healthy (n=60) men. Sperm motion kinetics assessed by computer assisted semen analysis (CA...

The case report demonstrates a case of a 31 years old patient referred to our outpatient endocrinology clinic for suspicion for central hypogonadism.He had undergone a first line examination at a urology outpatient clinic for infertility. His semen analysis showed azoospermia, palpation of the testicles did nor reveal any abnormalities. Sex hormone levels were obtained where low gonadotropin (LH and FSH) levels with total testosterone level within normal...

Context: Congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (CHH), is a rare disorder associated with severe testosterone deficiency and with impaired bone mineral mass (BMM) acquisition and osteoporosis. Estradiol (E2) play a major role in bone development and maintain in BMM in humans.Objective: To evaluate in detail the degree of E2 deficiency in adult men with CHH.Design and patients: Using a sensitive E2...

Introduction: Among various comorbidities of human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) infection, male hypogonadism is very frequent with a prevalence of 19% in patients treated with highly active anti-retroviral therapy. However, literature data are still lacking and achieved by studies with <300 subjects each.Aim of the study: Prevalence and clinical characterization of hypogonadism among a large number of men with HIV-1.Methods...

Introduction: Salivary testosterone (Sal-T) reflects the plasma free testosterone fraction that can flow passively through the salivary glands and appears to be a strong correlation with the Calculated free testosterone (CFT) in both eugonadal and hypogonadal men. Since the collection of saliva is simple, noninvasive and inexpensive, the Sal-T is a promising tool for the screening of hypogonadism. Despite the initial interest that Sal-T has aroused, new clinical studies are ne...

Introduction: Free testosterone (FT) and bioavailable testosterone (BT), are better surrogate markers of the androgenic status of the individual than total testosterone (TT). Calculated FT (CFT) and calculated BT (CBT) which take into consideration the kinetics of the bond between FT and albumin and SHBG, provide results practically identical to those of the reference techniques. Salivary testosterone (Sal-T) is a promising tool in the study of gonadal pathology. The interassa...

Background: Achievement of blood pressure (BP) control is an important target in type 2 diabetic patients (T2DM) to prevent microvascular and macrovascular complication. T2DM patients are characterized by endothelial dysfunction, which represents a key mechanism for the development of atherosclerotic disease.Aim: The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of a nutritional and dietary counseling on BP control and endothelial dysfunction in T2DM.<...

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a clustering of cardio-metabolic risk factors (hyperglycemia, hypertension, dyslipidemia, visceral fat accumulation) that is also associated with hypogonadism and erectile dysfunction (ED). The study was aimed at clarifying the relationships among MetS, hypogonadism, and ED, we developed an animal model of MetS.Methods: Male rabbits fed a high-fat diet (HFD), with or without testosterone (T) supplementation, were compared wit...

Introduction: While the association of Klinefelter’s syndrome (KS) with infertility is well known, very few investigations have evaluated the prevalence of sexual dysfunction in KS. The aim of the present study is to systematically analyse the prevalence of KS in a consecutive series of adult male patients consulting for sexual problems and to investigate its specific correlates.Methods: Among a consecutive series of 1386 patients (mean age 48.9&#17...

Introduction: Partial androgen insensitivity syndrome (PAIS) is a heterogeneous group of intersex disorders arising from tissue resistance to androgen action due to mutations of the androgen receptor. The phenotypic expression of the syndrome varies considerably and external genitalia’s masculinization depends on residual activity of the androgen receptor while gynecomastia is observed in most of the cases.Case report: We present the case of a 16 ye...

Introduction: Gonadal and erectile function in patients submitted to heart transplantation has not been previously investigated.Aim of the study: To evaluate gonadal and sexual function in patients successfully submitted to cardiac transplantation.Materials and methods: Fifty-two patients, aged 20–78 years (mean±S.D.: 54±15 years; range 20–78 years) transplanted 88±65 (range 4–220) month...

Background: Some previous reports point out undescended testes (UT) to be the main course of impaired fertility in males with Noonan syndrome (NS). Whether abnormities in gonadal function are present during prepuberal years or appear during pubertal development has not been investigated previously.Objective: To study the gonadal development during prepubertal and pubertal years in NS males.Patients: Twelve short NS males were follo...

In presence of androgen gene mutation, leading to androgen insensitivity because of an impaired regulatory mechanism of the gonadotropin–androgen axis, both LH and T in serum may be elevated, leading to a distinctively high value of the LH×T multiplication product, which has been termed as the androgen sensitivity index (ASI). The aim of our present study was to investigate a cohort of young males for impaired ASI. One hundred and seventy-seven nearly healthy post-pu...

Introduction: Testosterone therapy in elderly is controversial, because of the effect on prostate. The old age itself is not a contraindication in the therapy of hypogonadism.Aim: We analyze the effect of 24 months of therapy with testosterone undecanoat depot (1000 mg/4 ml) (TUD) on the volume of the prostate (VP).Patients and method: The patients were 79 symptomatic hypogonadic men, with normal value of PSA (<4 g/l). The urol...

Human seminal plasma contains a large array of proteins required for the normal physiology of spermatozoa and fertilization. To provide informations about the physiological mechanisms of male fertility we performed proteomic studies on human seminal plasma by a top-down approach. A semen sample was collected in a fertile normospermic man (sperm concentration 60×106 per ml; progressive motility 58%; normal morphology 45%). Hormonal blood assay was performed: tes...

Insulin-like factor 3 (INSL3) is produced by Leydig cells. In boys, the levels of INSL3 rise at pubertal stage P2 and further increase throughout puberty in close correlation with T and LH concentrations. In men with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (HH) INSL3 levels have been found very low and increased after short-term hCG treatment. Whether FSH plays a role in regulating INSL3 secretion is questioned. Aim of this study was to evaluate serum INSL3 levels during long-term hCG a...

We present the case of a 62 year old gentleman who was diagnosed with Acromegaly in 1998.He commenced testosterone replacement therapy in the form of Sustanon every three weeks in October 2000 following a testosterone level of 6.6 nmol/l.PSA levels during treatment with Sustanon were: 01/03/01–5.1μg/l.06/04/01–4.9 μg/l at which point he was referred for a urological opinion.<p class="a...