[Hypothalamo-hypophyseal-thyroid axis in recruits and soldiers with male hypogonadism]

The functional state of hypothalamus-hypophyseal-thyroid axis was investigated in 157 recruits and soldiers, aged from 17 to 26 with different forms of male hypogonadism: system of Kleinferter, male Turner, primary hypogonadism with recognized and unrecognized etiology, cryptorchism, anorchia, secondary hypogonadism and late puberty. Serum base level of TSH, T3, T4 were radioimmunologically determined as well as T3 binding with serum proteins. Single intravenous stimulation was performed with 200 mkg TRH and with 100 mkg LH-RH to groups of patients with various forms of male hypogonadism. Furthermore, the level of protein conjugated iodine (PCI) in serum was determined as well as J131 absorption by the thyroid gland and metabolism. Serum level of TSH, in male hypogonadism, was elevated with Kleifelter system and late puberty. Base level of T3 was reduced, of T4 -- elevated insecondary hypogonadism. T3 binding with serum proteins on all forms of the disease was within the norm. With the single venous TRH stimulation, the separate patients showed various responses to TSH. But in all cases, a tendency to elevation in the first several minutes after the stimulation was observed with a further stronger or poorer tendency to returning to the norm. In one patient with secondary hypogonadism an interrupted elevation of TSH was observed. The stimulation with thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) gave no significant deviation in the level of T3 and T4 both in healthy subjects and patients. Single intravenous stimulation with luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LH-RH) induced no significant changes in the level of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), T3, T4 and T3 binding with serum proteins in healthy subjects and patients. Base values of PCI in male hypogonadism were with normal ranges, J131 absorption by the thyroid gland and metabolism showing a tendency to lower values.