Studies on the role of sex-hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) in benign prostatic hypertrophy in men. I. Clinical research.

The effect of testosterone concentration and the sex-hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) binding capacity were studied in the blood of young men (19-35 years), older men (54-74 years) and in patients with hypertrophy of the prostate gland. In addition, the behaviour of these parameters after removal of the hypertrophic prostate gland was determined in the early postoperative period. It was found that the serum testosterone concentration falls with age. The lowest concentration was noted in patients with prostatic hypertrophy. It was also found that the SHBG testosterone binding capacity was greater in the sera of older men and of prostatic hypertrophy patients. Testosterone concentration did not change significantly after removal of the hypertrophic prostate; there was, however, a decrease in the SHBG binding capacity. The authors put forward the hypothesis that increased SHBG binding capacity may be a defense mechanism of the organism in cases of prostatic hypertrophy. By restricting the passage of testosterone into the cell, SHBG lowers the metabolism of this androgen in the target tissue and so prevents its further growth.