Data di Pubblicazione:
1994
Citazione:
Erythropoietin stimulates testosterone production in man / C. Foresta, R. Mioni, P. Bordon, D. Miotto, G. Montini, A. Varotto. - In: THE JOURNAL OF CLINICAL ENDOCRINOLOGY AND METABOLISM. - ISSN 0021-972X. - 78:3(1994 Mar), pp. 753-756.
Abstract:
Human recombinant erythropoietin (rHuEPO) treatment improves sexual function in end-stage renal failure patients with a still-debated mechanism. Experimental data suggested that rHuEPO was able to stimulate rat Leydig steroidogenesis; therefore, it has been suggested that rHuEPO may induce its effects in humans by acting on gonadal steroid production. Thirteen young adult males (age range, 16-28 yr) catheterized at peripheral and left internal spermatic venous levels during a contrast study for varicocele, were studied. In five subjects, rHuEPO (60 IU/kg, up to a maximum of 4000 IU total) was injected over 1 min in the cubital vein. Similarly, in other five patients, 50 μgs GnRH were infused. In three subjects, 2 mL saline were injected, as controls. Plasma LH, FSH, and testosterone (T) levels were then determined at -15, 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, and 120 min simultaneously in peripheral and spermatic venous blood. rHuEPO infusion did not have any effect on plasma LH and FSH levels in peripheral or spermatic veins. Similarly, rHuEPO infusion did not affect peripheral T concentration, but increased (approximately 400% vs. controls; P < 0.05) spermatic T levels. GnRH infusion induced an increase in plasma LH and FSH levels in both peripheral and spermatic veins. After GnRH infusion, an increase of approximately 12-fold (P = 0.05-0.001) in T was observed only at the spermatic venous level, without any peripheral T variation. These findings show that rHuEPO was able to influence testicular steroidogenesis by stimulating T production in man, whereas the absence of any effect on gonadotropin secretion suggests that rHuEPO might act directly on human Leydig cell function. © 1994 by The Endocrine Society.
Tipologia IRIS:
01 - Articolo su periodico
Keywords:
Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism; Biochemistry; Endocrinology; Clinical Biochemistry; Biochemistry (medical)
Elenco autori:
C. Foresta, R. Mioni, P. Bordon, D. Miotto, G. Montini, A. Varotto
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