EPISODIC LUTEINIZING HORMONE RELEASE IN IDIOPATHIC OLIGOSPERMIA

: The pathophysiology of idiopathic oligospermia (IO) is not fully understood. As some males with IO, particularly those with low normal testosterone (T), may respond favorably to human menopausal gonadotropin/human chorionic gonadotropin (hMG/hCG), aberration in gonadotropin release may be implied in these subjects. Therefore, episodic luteinizing hormone (LH) was studied in five males with IO and normal T and compared to six normal control males. Blood samples were obtained every 20 minutes, commencing at 8 A.M. over a period of six to eight hours and assayed for FSH and LH. T was determined at 0, 100, 180, 300, 360, and 480 minutes. Mean LH of 44.6 +/- 4.8 ng/mL (mean + standard error of the mean) in IO was higher than the mean LH of 32.2 + 3.1 ng/mL in the control group (P less than .025). Mean FSH of 204.2 +/- 20.3 ng/mL in IO was higher than mean FSH of 143.1 +/- 22.0 ng/mL in the control group (P less than .05). Mean T of 430 + 56 ng/dL in IO was comparable to 471 +/- 59.2 in the control group. The frequency of LH pulses was similar in both groups. The mean pulse amplitude of LH, 27 +/- 5.5 ng/mL, in IO was significantly higher than in the control group (15 +/- 2.2 ng/mL) (P less than .05). Although a central mechanism cannot be excluded, our data support a possible abnormality in testicular function in some males with IO.