Low dose finasteride(1mg/d, Propecia(R)) has been widely used as an effective treatment for male androgenetic alopecia. Finasteride is an inhibitor of 5-alpha-reductase, the enzyme responsible for testosterone metabolism to dihydrotestosteron(DHT). We report a case of painful, unilateral idiopathic gynecomastia aggravated by low dose finasteride for male androgenetic alpopecia. A 23-year-old man started treatment with Propecia(R), 1 mg per day. Two months later he presented with a painful enlargement of his right breast. Treatment was stopped and two months later the clinical manifestration had disappeared.
Alopecia ; Breast ; Finasteride* ; Gynecomastia* ; Humans ; Male ; Metabolism ; Testosterone ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of experimental varicocele (VC) on the serum testosterone (T) and intratesticular testosterone in adolescent rats.

METHODSA VC rat model was established by partial ligation of the left kidney vein in 20 SD rats, and another 20 were included in a sham operation group as controls. At 4 and 8 weeks, the concentrations of the serum T and intratesticular T were measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA). The testis tissues were homogenized and the extract liquid taken for RIA.

RESULTSCompared with the controls, the level of serum T declined at 4 and 8 weeks in the VC group, but not significantly (P > 0.05), so was that of bilateral intratesticular T at 4 weeks, and with statistical significance at 8 (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONWithin 8 weeks, experimental VC could reduce the level of bilateral intratesticular T, but not that of serum T. Varicocele could damage Leydig cells.

Animals ; Leydig Cells ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Testis ; metabolism ; Testosterone ; blood ; metabolism ; Varicocele ; metabolism

As men grow older, circulating testosterone declines while the incidence of cardiovascular disease increases. Thus, the role of sex hormones as biomarkers, and possibly contributing factors to clinical manifestations of cardiovascular disease in the increasing demographic of aging men, has attracted considerable interest. This review focuses on observational studies of endogenous androgens, namely circulating testosterone and dihydrotestosterone, which have examined their associations with cardiovascular events such as myocardial infarction and stroke. Studies which have examined the associations of endogenous estrogens, namely circulating estradiol, with these outcomes are also discussed. In large prospective cohort studies of predominantly middle-aged and older men, lower circulating testosterone consistently predicts higher incidence of cardiovascular events. Of note, both lower circulating testosterone and lower dihydrotestosterone are associated with higher incidence of stroke. These associations are less apparent when myocardial infarction is considered as the outcome. Results for estradiol are inconsistent. Lower circulating testosterone has been shown to predict higher cardiovascular disease-related mortality, as has lower circulating dihydrotestosterone. It is possible that the relationship of circulating androgens to cardiovascular events or mortality outcomes may be U-shaped rather than linear, with an optimal range defining men at lowest risk. Epidemiological studies are observational in nature and do not prove causality. Associations observed in studies of endogenous androgens need not necessarily translate into similar effects of exogenous androgens. Rigorous randomized controlled trials are needed to clarify the effects of testosterone treatment on cardiovascular risk in men.
Cardiovascular Diseases/mortality* ; Dihydrotestosterone/metabolism* ; Estradiol/metabolism* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Mortality ; Myocardial Infarction/metabolism* ; Stroke/metabolism* ; Testosterone/metabolism*

OBJECTIVETo explore the endocrinal factors which influence the aggressive behavior of adolescents.

METHODSThe levels of cortisol (CORT), testosterone (T), prolactin (PRL), and growth hormone (GH) in saliva from 20 aggressive students and 20 non-aggressive control students were measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA). The students were matched for their gender, age, grade, stage of pubertal development, and economic status of their families.

RESULTSThe salivary T levels were 22.20 +/- 14.50 pg/mL and 19.54 +/- 12.52 pg/mL in aggressive male and female students, 13.20 +/- 6.85 pg/mL and 5.24 +/- 3.03 pg/mL in non-aggressive male and female students (P < 0.05). The male aggressive students had a lower level of CORT in saliva than non-aggressive male students (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in the salivary levels of PRL or GH between the aggressive and non-aggressive groups. Correlation analysis revealed a negative relationship in male students between the salivary CORT levels and the aggression factor scores of the child behavior checklist (CBCL). In addition, the data also showed a positive relationship between the salivary T levels and the aggression factor scores of CBCL in female students. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the salivary CORT level was an independent predictive factor for aggressive behaviors in adolescent boys. The higher the CORT level, the less aggressive the boys were.

CONCLUSIONCORT and T levels may play a certain role in adolescent aggressive behaviors.

Adolescent ; Aggression ; Child ; Female ; Growth Hormone ; metabolism ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone ; metabolism ; Male ; Prolactin ; metabolism ; Saliva ; metabolism ; Testosterone ; metabolism

OBJECTIVE: Although the protective effects of Momordica charantia L. (MC) extract on chemical-induced testicular damage have been studied, the preventive effects of MC extract on functional proteins in the epididymis under chronic stress have never been reported. This study investigated the protective effects of MC fruit extract on protein secretion, especially tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins, in the epididymis of rats exposed to chronic unpredictable stress (CUS). METHODS: Total phenolic compounds (TPC), total flavonoid compounds (TFC) and antioxidant capacities of MC extract were measured. Adult male rats were divided into 4 groups: control group, CUS group, and 2 groups of CUS that received different doses of MC extract (40 or 80 mg/kg). In treated groups, rats were given MC daily, followed by induction of CUS (1 stressor was randomly applied from a battery of 9 potential stressors) for 60 consecutive days. Plasma corticosterone and testosterone levels were analyzed after the end of experiment. Expressions of heat-shock protein 70 (HSP-70) and tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins present in the fluid of the head and tail of the epididymis were quantified using Western blot. RESULTS: MC extract contained TPC of (19.005 ± 0.270) mg gallic acid equivalents and TFC of (0.306 ± 0.012) mg catechin equivalents per gram, and had 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl antioxidant capacity of (4.985 ± 0.086) mg trolox equivalents per gram, radical 50% inhibitory concentration of (2.011 ± 0.008) mg/mL and ferric reducing antioxidant power of (23.697 ± 0.819) µmol Fe(II) per gram. Testosterone level in the epididymis was significantly increased, while the corticosterone level was significantly improved in groups treated with MC extract, compared to the CUS animals. Particularly, an 80 mg/kg dose of MC extract prevented the impairments of HSP-70 and tyrosine-phosphorylated protein expressions in the luminal fluid of the epididymis of CUS rats. CONCLUSION MC fruit extract had antioxidant activities and improved the functional proteins secreted from the head and tail of the epididymis. It is possible to develop the MC fruit extract as a male fertility supplement for enhancing functional sperm maturation in stressed men.
Male ; Rats ; Animals ; Antioxidants/pharmacology* ; Tyrosine/metabolism* ; Plant Extracts/therapeutic use* ; Corticosterone ; Seeds ; Testosterone ; Fruit/metabolism*

There are various causes for male osteoporosis. The low testosterone level is one of the important reasons. Androgen does not only play an important role in gaining the peak bone mass and maintaining the bone mass, but also has an intimate correlation with the bone loss with ageing. Androgen affects osteoblasts through androgen receptors. Various local cell factors play regulating roles. The partial testosterone replacement therapy in aging men could elevate the bone mass density, but the advantages and the disadvantages should be observed further. The function of the estrogen in male osteoporosis is being noted as well.
Age Factors ; Hormone Replacement Therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Osteoporosis ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Testosterone ; metabolism ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo detect free testosterone (FT) in the serum and semen of patients with idiopathic oligospermia, and further analyze the relationship between FT and idiopathic oligospermia.

METHODSBlood samples were collected from the males of a normal control group (n = 44) and an idiopathic oligospermia group (n = 44) at 8:00-10:00 a.m.. Semen samples were collected from the males of a normal control group (n = 30) and an idiopathic oligospermia group (n = 37) at the same time. Sperm density was detected by routine semen analysis, and FT in the serum and semen was detected by RIA.

RESULTSThere was no significant difference in the serum concentrations of FT between the groups of normal control [(97.50 +/- 46.96) pmol/L] and idiopathic oligospermia [(94.88 +/- 42.04) pmol/L], P > 0.5. But the difference was significant in the semen concentrations of FT between the groups of normal control [(2.01 +/- 0.32) pmol/L] and idiopathic oligospermia [(0.52 +/- 0.44) pmol/L], P < 0.01.

CONCLUSIONMeasurement of semen FT concentration could early reflect the function of the testis, which contributes to the early diagnosis and treatment of idiopathic oligospermia.

Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Oligospermia ; blood ; metabolism ; Semen ; chemistry ; Testosterone ; blood ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the mechanism of serum testosterone reduction, its relationship with metabolism, changes in the number and morphology of Leydig cells and endocrine function in aging male rats.

METHODSThe levels of serum total testosterone (tT), LH, FSH, HDL, LDL, TG, TC, Glu, INS, IRG and LP were determined in young (9 mo) and aging rats (12, 15, 18 and 21 mo), with 6 in each group. The morphological changes of Leydig cells were observed under the microscope. The concentrations of testosterone secreted from the cultured Leydig cells with the stimulation of hCG and Forskolin were assayed. The apoptosis rates of Leydig cells were detected by TUNEL. The visceral fat was isolated and weighed, and the Lee's index calculated. All the above indexes were recorded and compared among different age groups.

RESULTSThe aging rats showed a significant decrease in the levels of serum tT and TSI ([1.26 +/- 0.65] ng/ml and [0.07 +/- 0.65] ng/mIU) as compared with the young rats ([3.24 +/- 0.38] ng/ml and [0.21 +/- 0.01] ng/mIU) (P < 0.01). Obvious differences were found in the morphology of Leydig cells among different age groups. The T secretion of Leydig cells at 24, 48 and 72 h in aging rats was markedly decreased (P < 0.05) while their TUNEL positive rate remarkably increased in the aging rats (17.36% +/- 1.31%) compared with the young ones (7.02% +/- 1.05%) (P < 0.05). There were statistically significant differences between the young and aging rats in all the biochemical parameters including IRG, HDL, LDL, TG, TC and visceral fat content (P < 0.05), except the levels of serum Glu, INS and LP (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe serum T level and secreting capacity of Leydig cells are significantly lower in aging rats than in young ones, and the metabolic parameters undergo regular changes with the decreasing level of serum T. The reduction of testosterone in aging male rats may be associated with the decreased secreting capacity and number of Leydig cells and declined function of the pituitary.

Aging ; Animals ; Leydig Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; secretion ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Testosterone ; blood ; metabolism

OBJECTIVE: To investigate androgen receptor (AR) expression and the effect of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and testosterone on AR expression level.
 METHODS: EGF or different concentrations of testosterone were incubated with the primary urethral plate fibroblasts from patients with hypospadias. The levels of AR expression in the fibroblasts were detected by immunocytochemical assays and graphical analysis.
 RESULTS: There was no significant difference in AR activation under physiological concentrations (3×10(-8) mol/L) of testosterone between the control and the distal hypospadias group (P>0.05). However, there was a significant decrease in AR activation in the proximal hypospadias group compared to that in the control group (P<0.001). Under the concentration of 3×10(-6) mol/L, the effects of testosterone on AR activation were dramatically different in the three groups (control group>distal hypospadias group>proximal hypospadias group, P<0.001). AR activation level in the group of proximal hypospadias was improved most obviously when EGF and physiological concentration of testosterone were employed in the urethral plate fibroblasts from hypospadias patients (P<0.001), and it was improved more in the distal hypospadias group than that in the control group (P=0.02).
 CONCLUSION AR expression and activation in the urethral plate fibroblasts from hypospadias patients are abnormal. EGF can be used to improve AR activation in fibroblasts from different types of hypospadias, especially in the proximal type.
Cells, Cultured ; EGF Family of Proteins ; metabolism ; Fibroblasts ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Humans ; Hypospadias ; metabolism ; Male ; Receptors, Androgen ; metabolism ; Testosterone ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo determine the presence of membrane testosterone receptors in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC), and investigate their relationship with classical intracellular androgen receptors (iAR).

METHODSVSMCs were cultured from the thoracic aorta of male Sprague-Dawley rats by the explant method. Subconfluent VSMCs were incubated with serum-free medium for 24 h to obtain quiescent non-dividing cells, and then treated with the indicated agents. The aliquots of VSMCs were labeled with testosterone-BSA-FITC (T-BSA-FITC) and analyzed by flow cytometry. Classical iARs in intact- and permeabilized-cells were detected with anti-iAR antibodies and FITC-labeled secondary antibodies by immunofluorescence, followed by flow cytometry analysis.

RESULTSIncubation of VSMCs with T-BSA-FITC obviously increased their relative fluorescence intensity at 10 sec as compared with the untreated controls (P < 0.01), and so did it at 10 min in comparison with the treatment with BSA-FITC alone or together with free testosterone (P < 0.01). Pretreatment with iAR antagonist flutamide exhibited no significant influence on the relative fluorescence intensity of VSMCs (P = 0.318). Traditional iARs were not detectable on the surface of intact VSMCs, although permeabilized cells contained iARs.

CONCLUSIONVSMCs contain testosterone receptors in the plasma membrane, and these membrane receptors are not identical to classical iARs.

Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Male ; Membrane Proteins ; metabolism ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Androgen ; metabolism ; Testosterone ; metabolism