[Hormonal function of the adrenal cortex in "medical castration" induced by prolonged infusion of luliberin agonists]

Time course of the major corticosteroid hormones and the precursors in the biosynthesis chain was studied, as was the type of corticosteroid complex formation with transcortin in the peripheral blood plasma in male papua hamadryas exposed to a 4-16 week infusions of LH releasing factor agonists (buserelin, Hoechst A. G., Germany, and surfagon, Cardiology Research Center of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences) with the use of osmotic mini-pumps (Alza Corp., Palo Alto, USA). Suppression of the gonadal function resultant from prolonged infusion of LH releasing factor agonists was not associated with essential shifts in the adrenal steroidogenesis and in the specific corticosteroid transport. Such exposure induced a somewhat more marked activation of glucocorticoid and adrenal androgen secretion in response to acute stressor exposure (a single injection of insulin in a dose of 0.2 U/kg b. m.). One should bear in mind this fact when prescribing therapy with LH releasing factor agonists to patients with prostatic carcinoma, for the adrenal androgens are transformed into active androgens in the prostatic tissue.