Aspirin inhibits androgen response to chorionic gonadotropin in humans

Citation
D. Conte et al., Aspirin inhibits androgen response to chorionic gonadotropin in humans, AM J P-ENDO, 277(6), 1999, pp. E1032-E1037
Citations number
30
Categorie Soggetti
Endocrinology, Nutrition & Metabolism
Journal title
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-ENDOCRINOLOGY AND METABOLISM
ISSN journal
01931849 → ACNP
Volume
277
Issue
6
Year of publication
1999
Pages
E1032 - E1037
Database
ISI
SICI code
0193-1849(199912)277:6<E1032:AIARTC>2.0.ZU;2-D
Abstract
Eicosanoids play an important role in the regulation of the hypothalamic-pi tuitary axis; less clear is their role in testicular steroidogenesis. To ev aluate the involvement of cyclooxygenase metabolites, such as prostaglandin s, in the regulation of human testicular steroidogenesis, we examined the e ffects of a prostaglandin-blocker, aspirin, on plasma testosterone, pregnen olone, progesterone, 17OH-progesterone, androstenedione, dehydroepiandroste rone, and 17 beta-estradiol response to human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in normal male volunteers in a placebo-controlled, single-blinded study. To test the efficacy of aspirin, seminal prostaglandin E-2 levels were also d etermined. hCG stimulation increased peripheral levels of testosterone, 17O H-progesterone, androstenedione, dehydroepiandrosterone, and 17 beta-estrad iol, without affecting circulating pregnenolone and progesterone values. As pirin significantly lowered seminal prostaglandin E-2 levels, whereas it di d not modify steroid concentrations not exposed to exogenous hCG. Moreover, the drug significantly reduced the response of testosterone, 17OH-progeste rone, androstenedione, and dehydroepiandrosterone to hCG, as assessed by th e mean integrated area under the curve, whereas it did not influence 17 bet a-estradiol response. In conclusion, aspirin treatment inhibits androgen re sponse to chorionic gonadotropin stimulation in normal humans. The action o f aspirin is probably mediated via an effective arachidonate cyclooxygenase block.