Searchable abstracts of presentations at key conferences in endocrinology
Endocrine Abstracts (2012) 29 P1049

ICEECE2012 Poster Presentations Male Reproduction (63 abstracts)

Effectiveness of gonadotropin treatment for spermatogenesis induction in hypogonadotropic hypogonadism: a possible role of androgen receptor CAG repeat polymorphism

V. Giagulli 1 , V. Triggiani 2 , E. Tafaro 2 , G. Corona 3, , B. Licchelli 2 , F. Resta 5 , C. Sabba’ 5 , M. Maggi 3 & E. Guastamacchia 2


1O.U. Metabolic Diseases and Endocrinology P.O. Monopoli-Conversano, Conversano, Italy; 2O.U. of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, University of Bari, Bari, Italy; 3Sexual Medicine and Andrology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy; 4O.U. of Endocrinology, Maggiore-Bellaria Hospital, Bologna, Bologna, Italy; 5Rare Diseases Center, University of Bari, Bari, Italy.


Prepuberal-onset HH (PRHH) and postpuberal-onset HH (PSHH) men required GnTh by means of administration of both the β human chorionic gonodadotropin (ηHCG) and the FSH to induce a complete spermatogenesis. However, the response to GnTh is always unpredictable concerning either the effectiveness or the duration of the therapy. Consequently, different studies have been carried out to identify clinical and biochemical markers that can be useful to predict the effectiveness of GnTh. As testosterone plays an essential role in inducing and maintaining spermatogenesis, we measured the AR CAG in HH men, in order to examine whether the AR-CAG extensions could co-regulate the GnTh effectiveness. Twenty-three HH subjects subdivided according to the age at onset (pre- and postpubertal), were treated with the same scheme and doses of GnTh up to 30 months. Thirty-five healthy and fertile men served as a control group (CG).Twelve HH men (three PRHH and nine PSHH), who reached complete spermatogenesis within 12 months, showed AR CAG repeat number (20 (19–23)= median (interquartile range 25th – 75th percentile)) not statistically different from our CG (20 (19–22)), while CAG repeat number (23 (20–25)) of 11 HH patients (nine PRHH and two PSHH) who reached complete spermatogenesis beyond a year to within 30 months, was significantly higher. Our results suggest that AR CAG length might affect the response to GnTh in HH men, especially in PRHH patients.

Declaration of interest: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest that could be perceived as prejudicing the impartiality of the research project.

Funding: This research did not receive any specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sector.

Volume 29

15th International & 14th European Congress of Endocrinology

European Society of Endocrinology 

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