[Spermatogenic dysfunction and gonadotrophins (author's transl)]

The authors try to demonstrate a relation between the number of immature cells of germinal origin in sterile men's sperm and plasmatic gonadotrophin levels of the same patients. Plasma FSH, LH, testosterone and 17 beta-estradiol were assayed in two groups of male patients with teratospermia. Results were compared with those obtained in a control group of normal men. Hypophyseal gonadotrophins level is higher in men whose spermatogenesis is defective than in normal men. It is suggested that these results might support the hypothesis that a defect in inhibin synthesis would be responsible for raised gonadotrophins.