ABSTRACT
An attempt was made to suppress production of androgens and oestrogens in normal men by administering large doses of exogenous androgens and corticoids. After 5 days of 40 mg fluoxymesterone qd, plasma testosterone concentrations decreased from 509 to 73 ng/100 ml (85%); on adding 8 mg qd of dexamethasone, there was a further decrease to 45 ng/100 ml. Androstenedione concentrations were decreased equally by fluoxymesterone and corticoids.
To monitor the suppressive effects of exogenous steroids, urinary LH was followed serially by radioimmunoassay, and decreased to only 40% of control levels after 5 days of fluoxymesterone, with no further suppression noted on adding dexamethasone. Nanogram quantities of steroidal metabolites were not adsorbed by kaolin extraction of urine, thus enabling gonadotrophins (kaolin extract) and low-level steroids (supernate) to be measured in the same urine sample.
Urinary oestrone and oestradiol excretion decreased during 5 days of fluoxymesterone, and continued to fall when dexamethasone was added. In no case was oestrone or oestradiol excretion, urinary LH or plasma androgens completely suppressed by large doses of fluoxymesterone alone, or in combination with large doses of dexamethasone.
Diurnal variations in scrotal temperature of normal men and patients with varicocele before and after treatment