[Plasma concentrations and urinary excretion of gonadotropins in azoo and oligospermia. Relationship with spermatogenesis and plasma concentration of androgens (author's transl)].

Plasma concentrations and urinary excretions rate of gonadotropins, testosterone, delta 4-androstenedione, dehydroepiandrosterone and 17 and 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone plasma concentrations have been studied in 69 patients with oligo or azoospermia and compared with results obtained in 30 normal control subjects. A sperm count and a caryotype have been done in all patients and a testicular biopsy in 35. Analysis of the histo-hormonal correlations does not show a particular stage of spermatogenesis associated with a modification in FSH production. There is a quantitative relationship between spermatogenesis and FSH production. Plasma testosterone is low and LH production normal in excretory azoospermia. In the other patients plasma testosterone is also low but associated with an increased production of LH. Finally there is a direct relationship between urinary excretion of LH and FSH in both normal subjects and patients, suggesting a modulation by specific factors of a common regulation of the secretion of both gonadotropins.