TESTOSTERONE PRODUCTION IN POORLY CONTROLLED ADOLESCENT DIABETIC MALES

Abstract

There are suggestions of an impairment in testosterone synthesis and/or testosterone secretion in diabetic animals and humans. The kinetics of human chorionic gonadotropin-induced steroidogenic response of the human testis was evaluated by administration of hCG to six normal adolescent controls (N) and six insulin-dependent adolescent diabetic males during a period of poor diabetic control (DPC) and repeated three months later after obtaining good control (DGC) by multiple daily insulin injections. HCG was administered in a single injection of 6,000 UI (Pregnyl, Organon Lab) at 9:00 a.m. and bloods were drawn at 0,1,2,4,6,12,24 and 48 hr for plasma testosterone levels, determined by RIA. Hg A_1C was N 5.0%±1.4, DPC 13.2%±1.9, DGC 7.5%±1 (p<0.01). Plasma testosterone levels mean ± SE (ng/ml) in DPC was at 0 452±115; 1 hr 448±110; 2 hr 591±151; 4 hr 569±120; 6 hr 581±127; 8 hr 502±124; 12 hr 620±153; 24 hr 932±239 and 48 hr 1345±364. In DGC was at 0 723±87; 1 hr 743±39; 2 hr 860±51; 4 hr 953±137; 6 hr 856±142; 8 hr 970±127; 12 hr 1116±200; 24 hr 1566±298 and 48 hr 1896±231. Plasma testosterone in DGC were not different from N. Juvenile diabetics in poor control had low basal and post hCG plasma testosterone levels than during a period of good diabetic control. This study suggests impaired androgen production in male adolescent diabetics in poor control. Low testosterone production may be related to sexual dysfunction, growth retardation, and atherosclerosis in adolescent diabetics. (Supported by NIH grant RR-318).

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