Urine Estrogen Responses to Human Chorionic Gonadotropin in Young, Old and Hypogonadal Men

Abstract

Estrone (E₁), estradiol 17β (E₂), estriol (E₃) and 17-ketosteroid (17-KS) excretion were studied in 7 young men before and during human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) stimulation, and the findings were compared with those from 16 old men and 5 hypogonadal men. One patient was studied again after castration. Secondary sexual development correlated: (a) with 17-KS excretion, but better with that of E₁ and the total of the 3 estrogens (E_T); (b) well with the HCG-stimulated increments of each of the 3 estrogens, especially that of E₁ The presence or the absence of old age correlated: (a) well with E₁ and 17-KS excretion and somewhat less well with E₂ and E_T excretion; (b) with the HCG-stimulated 17-KS and estrogen increments, especially that of E₁. The E₁ response to HCG stimulation is recommended as a test of testicular endocrine function. The mean E₂/E₁ ratio was lower in young healthy men than in old or hypogonadal men —with or without HCG stimulation. The mean E₁/E_T ratio was higher in young than in old men, the reverse being true for the E₃/E_T ratio. The mean HCG-stimulated level of E₃ excretion was lower in men with prostatic carcinoma than in men of similar age with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).