Plasma testosterone, estradiol, progesterone and 17-hydroxy-progesterone responses to single-dose stimulation with human chorionic gonadotropin in chronic male alcoholics

Ten chronic male alcoholics presenting with hypogonadism but without overt liver failure were examined under basal conditions and after stimulation of the testicular steroidogenesis with a single dose of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG, 2,000 IU im). Plasma concentrations of testosterone (T), 17 beta-estradiol (E2), progesterone (P) and 17-OH progesterone (17-OHP) were measured between 08:00-09:00 prior to injection and then every 24 h at the same time in the morning until the 96th hour following the injection. Controls were 10 male adult volunteers, examined under the same conditions. Four alcoholics underwent a second hCG stimulation after 10 day controlled abstinence from alcohol. Basal plasma T and P were significantly decreased and increased respectively in the alcoholics (p less than 0.001) whereas E2 and 17-OHP were much the same in both groups. The magnitude of the T response to hCG injection was significantly lower in the alcoholics at any considered time (p less than 0.001). The E2 response, too, was lower, whereas the ratio E2 change/T change after hCG was higher. The response peak occurred earlier for E2 than for T both in controls and alcoholics. The mean percent change at 24 h and the mean maximum increase of 17-OHP were higher in the alcoholics (p less than 0.01 and p less than 0.05 respectively). An increase in P after hCG was observed in only 5 alcoholics (responders), while some subjects displayed paradoxical decreases. Abstinence was always followed by an increased T response and a decreased 17-OHP response. The E2 response was unchanged and two P responders displayed an increased response.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)