HYPOTHALAMIC-PITUITARY-GONADAL AXIS, PROLACTIN, AND CORTISOL IN ALCOHOLICS DURING WITHDRAWAL AND AFTER 3 WEEKS OF ABSTINENCE - COMPARISON WITH HEALTHY CONTROL SUBJECTS

Serum concentrations of luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating horm one, testosterone, androstenedione, estradiol, sex hormone-binding glo bulin, cortisol, and prolactin were measured in 12 male chronic alcoho lics once during withdrawal and once after 21 days of abstinence. The results were compared with those of 14 healthy volunteers. During with drawal, luteinizing hormone, estradiol, and cortisol levels were signi ficantly enhanced. Estradiol and cortisol concentrations fell signific antly during abstinence, whereas luteinizing hormone concentrations re mained elevated. The results may be interpreted as follows: the well-k nown inhibitory effect of alcohol on the biosynthesis of testosterone may have led to a compensatory increase in luteinizing hormone secreti on, so that normal serum concentrations of testosterone were maintaine d. On the other hand, peripheral conversion from androstenedione to es tradiol via aromatase pathways seemed to be enhanced in chronic alcoho lics, at least during withdrawal. Whether this marked increase in estr adiol concentrations is implicated in different clinical and psycholog ical symptoms seen in chronic alcoholics remains to be investigated.