TESTICULAR CONTRIBUTION TO PERIPHERAL ANDROSTENEDIONE (Δ) AND 17 αHYDROXYPROGESTERONE (OHP) IN RELATION TO AGE IN PREPUBERTAL SUBJECTS WITH NORMAL AND ABNORMAL SEXUAL DIFFERENTIATION

Abstract

Specific RIAs were used to measure testosterone (T), Δ, OHP (results in ng/dl plasma, mean ±SD) HCG test : 1500 IU every other day × 7. In 35 controls (1–14yrs) basal T did not vary with age, Δ increased after age 8 (12±6 vs 37±19) and OHP after 10 yrs (30±22 vs 67±26). According to age, end-test levels did not vary for T and OHP (606±201, 163±158) but increased for Δ(45±l4 vs 70±16 after 8 yrs). Adult male levels were reached for T and OHP but not for Δ. In 11 cryptorchids, end-test T and OHP were low (281±41, 93±46) but Δnormal for age (42±13). In 6 agonadics there was no increase in T, Δ, OHP after HCG. In 5 hypogonadic males T increase was insignificant (≤ 71) but that of Δ and OHP was noted (76, 102). Among 10 male pseudohermaphrodites (MPH) 6 had normal T, Δ, OHP response, 4 had low T (155±68) but normal for age Δ increase after HCG (59±14). In 6 cases of Morris′ sd HCG response was normal or high. Fluoxymesterone significantly decreased T. Δ, OHP in 7 cases. It is suggested that prepubertal testis can contribute to Δ, OHP plasma pool. Since 2 weeks of HCG stimulation led to male adult levels for T and OHP but not for Δand since cortisol secretion does not vary with age, a change in adrenal androgen biosynthesis would occur during sexual maturation. In undescended testis as MPH with low T, but normal Δ response to HCG, an abnormal T biosynthesis might exist beside a relative testicular deficiency.

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