[The neuroendocrinological and histopathological assessment of normogonadotropic azoospermic patients: the usefulness of the GnRH stimulation test].

This study evaluates the effect of gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) administration on serum levels of FSH and LH. Also, relate those results with histopathologic findings of testicular biopsies. This was a prospective, clinical trial with a control group. It was done at Department of Reproductive Biology "20 de Noviembre" Hospital, ISSSTE, México City. Fifteen azoospermic, normogonadotropic patients without testicular atrophy and ten normal men use as control group. A GnRH challenge test was made in both groups, two days after we perform a testicular biopsy in patients with azoospermia. There was no significant difference in serum LH concentrations between the two groups, neither before or after GnRH challenge test. There was a statistical difference between serum FSH values of azoospermic patients, than those of control group, the former with higher values than those of the latter. As worst testicular damage was, we found also a higher FSH value on the GnRH challenge test. The GnRH challenge test perform in azoospermic, normogonadotropic patients is very helpful to detect those patients with gonadal damage. As higher the FSH values were, we found that an abnormal testicular biopsy was also more common.