The role of gonadotropins in testicular and adrenal androgen biosynthesis pathways-Insights from males with congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism on hCG/rFSH and on testosterone replacement
Autor: | Michael Zitzmann, Sabine Kliesch, Alexandra Kulle, Julia Rohayem, Sandra Laurentino, Paul-Martin Holterhus, Eberhard Nieschlag |
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Rok vydání: | 2020 |
Předmět: |
Male
endocrine system medicine.medical_specialty medicine.drug_class Endocrinology Diabetes and Metabolism medicine.medical_treatment Androstenediol 030209 endocrinology & metabolism 03 medical and health sciences chemistry.chemical_compound 0302 clinical medicine Endocrinology Tandem Mass Spectrometry Internal medicine medicine Humans Testosterone Androstenedione business.industry Hypogonadism Androgen Steroid hormone chemistry 030220 oncology & carcinogenesis Dihydrotestosterone Case-Control Studies Androgens Quality of Life Congenital Hypogonadotropic Hypogonadism Gonadotropin business hormones hormone substitutes and hormone antagonists Gonadotropins medicine.drug Chromatography Liquid |
Zdroj: | Clinical endocrinologyREFERENCES. 94(1) |
ISSN: | 1365-2265 |
Popis: | Objective To delineate the role of gonadotropins in male androgen biosynthesis pathways. Design Case-control study. Patients and measurements Twenty five males with congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (CHH) underwent hCG/rFSH and testosterone treatment sequentially. Serum steroid hormone profiles (testosterone precursors and metabolites) on both replacement regimens were analysed, using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and compared to those of healthy controls, matched by age, BMI and serum testosterone. Results On testosterone replacement, serum concentrations of the classic Δ4 pathway hormones progesterone and 17-hydroxy-progesterone (17-OHP), and the marker steroid of an alternative pathway of testosterone synthesis (androstenediol) were decreased, compared to controls. Androstanediol, a marker of the backdoor pathway of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) synthesis, was increased. 17-OH-pregnenolone, androstenedione and DHEAS (Δ5 pathway), three 11-oxygenated C19 androgens (11-keto-A4, 11-keto-T and 11-keto-DHT) and the testosterone (T) metabolites DHT and 17s-oestradiol (E2) were similar to controls. On gonadotropin replacement, 17-OHP, 17-OH-pregnenolone, DHEAS and androstenedione, as well as DHT, androstenediol, and all 11-oxygenated C19 androgens were normal. Progesterone (Δ4 pathway) was slightly decreased, and androstanediol (backdoor DHT pathway) and E2 (T metabolite) were increased. Conclusions In males with CHH, serum steroid hormone profiles resemble those of healthy men, if hCG/rFSH is used for substitution. Gonadotropins contribute to steroid hormone production along the classic Δ4 pathway and co-activate an alternative pathway of testosterone biosynthesis via androstenediol. Backdoor DHT biosynthesis, Δ5 17-OH-pregnenolone, DHEA(S) and androstenedione synthesis and 11-oxygenated C19 androgen production are activated independently of gonadotropins. The androgen replacement modality used for treatment of hypogonadal males with absent or reduced endogenous LH/FSH secretion may impact on long-term health and quality of life. |
Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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