Direct evidence in men for a role of endogenous oestrogens on gonadotrophin release

In six healthy subjects serum oestradiol was selectively decreased by administering an aromatase activity inhibitor, hydrotestolactone (HT). After HT administration serum oestradiol (Oe2) decreased from 18.7 +/- 2.3 (SEM) to 6.7 +/- 0.6 pg/ml whereas testosterone (T) and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) blood levels were not modified. These oestradiol changes were associated with a significant increase in serum LH and FSH concentrations (P less than 0.001). The administration of tamoxifen, an oestrogen antagonist, to 5 subjects caused a sharp increase in LH and FSH levels (P less than 0.001). Oe2 was unchanged after the treatment with tamoxifen, whereas T levels were significantly higher. The sum of these data suggests that oestradiol under physiological conditions plays a specific role in the feedback mechanism of gonadotrophin release.