Varying degrees of testicular dysfunction are found in men with traumatic spinal cord
damage. Eighteen paraplegic men have been studied and the gonadotropin response to
luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LRH) measured. Basal serum testosterone estimations
were made and in eight of the patients testicular testosterone reserve was assessed
by the testosterone response to human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG). Testicular biopsies
were performed in seven cases. In three of these patients, the testicular biopsies
were abnormal. Five of the patients had elevated Follicle stimulating hormone levels
and abnormalities of Luteinizing hormone kinetics were found in the same five patients.
There was no significant difference between the plasma testosterone levels of the
paraplegic patients when compared to the control group. In all the patients tested,
there was an adequate testosterone reserve, and this included the three patients with
the abnormal testicular biopsies. No relationship was found between the level of cord
lesion and any of the hormonal parameters measured. This study confirms the primary
nature of the seminiferous tubular damage which occurs in some patients with paraplegia.
Testicular Function - Paraplegia - Gonadotropins - LRH
