[Androgen status of male diabetics. Total testosterone before and following stimulation with HCG, free testosterone, and testosterone binding capacity of patients with and without potency disorders].

In order to investigate the androgen status of diabetics we determined in 39 patients, 18-60 years old, 17 of which suffered from potency disturbances, the basal total plasma testosterone, the free testosterone fraction and the unbound plasma testosterone as well as the testosterone binding capacity. In 39 of these patients we proved the response of Leydig cells to HCG. Between normal persons and patients with and without potency disturbances basal total plasma testosterone did not differ significantly (p greater than 0.10). After a 3-day stimulation with HCG the increase of basal total plasma testosterone was significantly lower in the two diabetic groups in comparison with the normal persons (p less than 0.0005). The group with potency disturbances had significantly lower values for the free testosterone fraction (p less than 0.005) and unbound plasma testosterone (p less than 0.0025) than normal persons whereas diabetics without potency disturbances did not reveal any significant differences (p greater than 0.25 and p greater than 0.40). Further there were significant differences between the patients with and without potency disturbances (p less than 0.025) and (p less than 0.025). Testosterone binding capacity was significantly increased in the group with potency disturbances (p less than 0.0005) and also in the group without potency disturbances (p less than 0.01) as compared with controls. Moreover was it significantly higher in the group with potency disturbances than that without potency disturbances (p less than 0.01). For none of the parameters a functional correlation of age or diabetes duration could be demonstrated. The results are discussed with regard to the causes of potency disturbances in male diabetics.