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Leydig cell function was investigated in 71 men with idiopathic oligospermia(low sperm count in ejaculate) and compared to 14 fertile controls by assessing the steroidogenic response to GnRH and the repetitive administration of hCG (1500 IU x3). The oligospermic men were divided into two groups according to their basal serum FSH values (FSH < 8, n = 35; FSH > 8, n = 36), this level being defined by the mean + 3 SD of the levels in normal men (3.71 + 4.08 mIU/ml). Over secretion of LH was supported by the findings of: (a) higher basal LH levels (p < 0.0001) in both oligospermic groups, although still within the normal range; (b) higher Dmax LH and area LH (p < 0.0001) levels in the FSH > 8 group; (c) a strong position correlation (p < 0.001) of the above parameters with the respective levels of FSH. No difference in basal testosterone levels was observed between the three groups, whereas basal levels of 17-OHP were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the group with FSH > 8. The testosterone/LH ratio was significantly (p < 0.0001) lower in the FSH > 8 group, and was correlated inversely to the basal blood levels of FSH (p < 0.0001) and to the area LH (p < 0.04). After the hCG test, there was no difference in the testosterone and oestradiol response between the groups, whereas the secretion of 17-OHP and the ratio of 17-OHP/testosterone was significantly higher (p < 0.0001) in the group with FSH > 8 compared with the other two groups.
