Effect of growth hormone cotreatment with human chorionic gonadotropin in testicular steroidogenesis and seminal insulin-like growth factor-1 in oligozoospermia.

Objective: To study the GH synergy with hCG in testicular steroidogenesis and seminal insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) in oligozoospermia.

Setting: University endocrine unit.

Patients: Eight oligospermic, non-GH-deficient men.

Interventions: Three different protocols spaced 3 months apart were applied in each man: plain hCG protocol: 1,500 IU IM three times every other day; GH + hCG protocol: with the addition of 4 IU SC GH daily 8 days before and throughout the hCG phase; placebo + hCG: substitution of GH by NaCL 0.9%. Blood sampling was performed before and on the 8th day (for 2nd- and 3rd-day protocols) and 24 hours after each hCG administration. Semen was collected three times during each protocol.

Main Outcome Measures: Plasma for P, 17-OHP, androstenedione, DHEA, DHEAS, T, and E2 and plasma and seminal IGF-1 three times during each study.

Results: Serum IGF-1 levels increased more than threefold after GH administration. Seminal IGF-1 activity was unaffected by GH treatment or hCG administration, showing random fluctuations within each subject without correlation to the respective plasma levels. The incremental response of each steroid under hCG did not differ between the three protocols, apart from increased P levels under GH.

Conclusions: Short-term GH cotreatment with hCG did not affect seminal IGF-1 concentration and had a weak synergist effect on steroidogenesis.