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 c lonidine tests on 10 healthy fertile men and on a group of patients wi th severe oligozoospermia of various aetiologies. The results demonstr ated that 10 patients (91%) in the azoospermic group had non-reactive, pathological responses while none of the control group had a patholog ical response. Of the severe oligozoospermic group, 82% had normal rea ctive clonidine tests (P < 0.005). We suggest that growth hormone defi ciency may be associated with maturation arrest, and the possibility o f treatment with growth hormone should be considered.