Reduced 'gonadotrophin response to releasing hormone' after chronic administration to impotent men

Ten endocrinologically normal men with secondary sexual impotence were given 500 microng LHRH subcutaneously every 8 h. After 4 weeks treatment the LH response to 500 microng LHRH was reduced from a peak of 35.7+/-5.2 to 16.8+/-3.5 mu/ml (P less than 0.01) and the FSH response from 4.2+/-0.93 to 2.39+/-0.4 mu/ml (P greater than 0.01). Circulating total testosterone, oestradiol, prolactin and sex hormone binding globulin showed no significant changes. Whether this inability of the pituitary to maintain it s response to LHRH is peculiar to impotent men requires further study.