Growth hormone status in patients with maturation arrest of spermatogenesis

The growth hormone levels of 11 azoospermic patients with histological evidence of maturation arrest of unknown aetiology were studied using the clonidine test. The results were compared with the results from clonidine tests on 10 healthy fertile men and on a group of patients with severe oligozoospermia of various aetiologies. The results demonstrated that 10 patients (91%) in the azoospermic group had non-reactive, pathological responses while none of the control group had a pathological response. Of the severe oligozoospermic group, 82% had normal reactive clonidine tests (P < 0.005). We suggest that growth hormone deficiency may be associated with maturation arrest, and the possibility of treatment with growth hormone should be considered.