Hyperparathyroidism and hypotestosteronemia of acute renal failure

Acute and chronic renal failure are associated with a marked reduction in the serum levels of testosterone. The mechanisms underlying this abnormality are unknown. Certain data have implicated the high blood levels of parathyroid hormone (PTH) of uremia in the genesis of the hypotestosteronemia. The effects of 3 days of acute uremia in dogs with intact parathyroid glands and in thyroparathyroidectomized animals on serum testosterone levels and on the calcium content of the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and the testes were examined. Similar studies were performed in normal dogs treated with parathyroid extract for 3 days. The serum levels of testosterone were significantly (p less than 0.01) reduced, and the calcium levels of hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and testes were significantly (p less than 0.01) increased in the acutely uremic dogs with intact parathyroid glands and in the normal dogs treated with parathyroid extract. Prior parathyroidectomy in the acutely uremic dogs prevented these abnormalities. The results of our study assign an important role for the excess blood levels of PTH in uremia in the genesis of the hypotestosteronemia. The data suggest that the effect of excess PTH on serum testosterone levels may be mediated through the accumulation of calcium in the organs which participate in synthesis and/or release of testosterone.