GH/IGF-I axis in azoospermia in primary and secondary hypogonadism: a study before and during replacement therapy

The growth hormone/insulin-like growth factor-I (GH/IGF-I) axis was studied in 15 azoospermic patients and in 10 control men. Eight patients were affe cted by hypergonadotrophic hypogonadism and 7 by hypogonadotrophic hypogona dism. AU were studied before and during replacement therapy with testostero ne and gonadotrophin, respectively, using the alpha(2) adrenergic agonist, clonidine (clonidine test). The data demonstrate no differences in. basal l evels for TGF-T and for the GH response to clonidine in azoospermic patient s, affected by primary and secondary hypogonadism, before and during replac ement therapy when compared with control fertile men. In contrast to some s tudies which describe a reduced GH response in azoospermia and oligozoosper mia, we conclude that basal serum levels of IGF-I and the GH response to cl onidine are not impaired in azoospermic patients affected by primary hypogo nadism before and after the restoration of normal androgenization, and in a zoospermic patients affected. by secondary hypogonadism, both before and af ter restoration of spermatogenesis.