URINARY GONADOTROPHINS FOLLOWING CASTRATION OF MEN

Abstract

ABSTRACT The excretion of total hypophyseal gonadotrophins (HG), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) was studied in 13 castrated men aged 23 to 56 years, mean 38.8 years. All the men were castrated for legal reasons. The time from castration to the investigation varied from 4 weeks to 24 years. Four of the subjects were studied from the time before surgery until 4 weeks after castration. The mean excretion of HG, FSH and LH was statistically significantly higher than that of normal men of the same age i. e. by 8, 9 and 3 times higher respectively. The FSH/LH ratio was in the mean 2.8. Following orchiectomy FSH rose more rapidly and to a higher level than LH. The maximal level of FSH was reached within 1–2 weeks after castration in contrast to LH which did not consistently reach the maximal level within 4 weeks. This difference in FSH and LH levels after castration supports the concept that FSH and LH are regulated independently in man.