SEX-HORMONE RESPONSES IN HEALTHY-MEN AND MALE-PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY-DISEASE DURING AN ORAL GLUCOSE-LOAD

The responses of serum testosterone, sex hormone-binding globulin (SHB G) and luteinizing hormone (LH) to an oral glucose tolerance test (OGT T) were investigated in 16 healthy subjects as well as in 11 normoxaem ic and 10 hypoxaemic chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) pati ents. The latter group were investigated on two occasions, with and wi thout oxygen therapy. Testosterone and apparent free testosterone conc entration (AFTC) fell significantly in the healthy subjects as well as in the hypoxaemic patients on oxygen therapy (p < 0.01), whereas LH i ncreased in all groups during the OGTT (p < 0.05). There were signific antly higher SHBG levels (p < 0.01), and lower AFTC levels (p < 0.05) in the hypoxaemic group compared to the healthy subjects. In the hypox aemic group short-term oxygen therapy increased basal AFTC significant ly (p < 0.05). With oxygen therapy, the 120-min glucose levels fell si gnificantly from 9.1 +/- 3.2 to 7.6 +/- 2.7 mmol l(-1) (mean +/- SD) i n the hypoxaemic group (p < 0.05). In conclusion, we have found the se rum testosterone and AFTC levels to decrease after an oral glucose loa d in healthy subjects, together with a compensatory increase in LH. Th e same pattern is seen in COPD patients. The hypoxaemic patients have a reduced AFTC which is partly reversed by oxygen therapy.