Diurnal rhythm of testosterone induced by human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) therapy in isolated hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism: a comparison between subcutaneous and intramuscular hCG administration.

When human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) is used to stimulate testosterone synthesis and release in males with hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism, it is administered two or three times weekly by intramuscular injection. We have compared the pharmacokinetics of a twice weekly standard dose of hCG (5000 U) given for the first week by intramuscular injection and in the second week by self-administered subcutaneous injection. The patients studied had Kallmann's syndrome, isolated idiopathic hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism or post-traumatic isolated hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism.

Self-administered subcutaneous human menopausal gonadotrophin for the stimulation of testicular growth and the initiation of spermatogenesis in hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism.

Objective: We determined whether or not self-administered subcutaneous human menopausal gonadotrophin (hMG) therapy is safe and effective in the stimulation of testicular growth and initiation of spermatogenesis in men with hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism where human chorionic gonadotrophin alone had failed.

Design: Human menopausal gonadotrophin was self-administered subcutaneously in two dosage regimens to patients requiring (a) fertility (Group I), 37.5 IU twice daily (total weekly dose 525 IU) (n = 7) and (b) increased testicular size (Group II) 37.

Comparison of methods for the determination of unbound triiodothyronine in pregnancy.

Objective: To study the changes in unbound T3 concentration in the first trimester of pregnancy.

Design: We measured serum unbound T3 concentration before and after termination of pregnancy.

Patients: Twenty-six clinically euthyroid women.

Human chorionic gonadotropin may not be responsible for thyroid-stimulating activity in normal pregnancy serum.

Although hCG can activate thyroid cells in culture there is considerable doubt as to whether it is responsible for the changes in thyroid function which occur during normal pregnancy. Thyroid-stimulating activity (TSA), measured using iodide uptake into FRTL-5 cells, was demonstrated in 32/51 (63%) first and 15/29 (52%) third trimester sera. Free T3 was increased (P less than 0.

Thyrotoxicosis and hyperemesis gravidarum associated with a serum activity which stimulates human thyroid cells in vitro.

Objective: To investigate in-vitro thyroid stimulatory activity in the serum of patients with hyperemesis gravidarum and thyrotoxicosis.

Design: Serum from hyperthyroid patients was incubated with cultures of human thyroid cells. Attempts were made to neutralize stimulatory activity with antisera to hCG.