Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) levels, the sperm count and the histologic appearance of the testis were studied in 56 patients with azoospermia or oligospermia.FSH is elevated in those cases of azoospermia where gametogenesis is arrested prior to spermatid differentiation. Serum FSH is normal, however, in most patients in whom spermatids and spermatozoa are detectable on testicular biopsy. There is no relationship between the sperm count and the concentration of serum FSH.No correlation exists between serum LH and either the sperm count or the stage of spermatogenesis as evaluated on testicular biopsy. (/ Clin Endocrinol Metab 34: 1003, 1972

Apomorphine challenge tests (0.5 mg SC) were performed in 14 normal male volunteers and in 9 male schizophrenic inpatients, drug-free for at least 2 wk. In the normal volunteers, apomorphine induced an increase of serum growth hormone (GH) (maximum at 40 min), of vasopressin-neurophysin (hNpI) (maximum at 20 min), and oxytocin-neurophysin (hNpII) (maximum at 20 min). The release of neurophysins was independent of digestive side effects. In the schizophrenics, the GH level and release pattern were similar to those in the controls. The basal level of hNpI was reduced (t0: 0.42 +/- 0.1 ng/ml in the schizophrenics and 0.66 +/- 0.05 ng/ml in the controls, p < 0.02). In contrast, the basal level of hNpII was increased (3.34 +/- 0.04 ng/ml in the schizophrenics to 0.92 +/- 0.21 ng/ml in the controls, p = 0.001). The response to apomorphine was blunted, with no significant release of hNpI or of hNpII. Although the hNpII data are consistent with an increased dopaminergic tone, the psychopathological meaning of the increased basal oxytocinergic and decreased vasopressinergic functions remains to be defined.

The effect of intense muscular work (80% of maximal oxygen uptake) on responses of plasma hormones involved in electrolyte and water balance were measured in 14 male subjects. They were divided into three groups according to their maximal oxygen uptake and the duration of exercise performed until exhaustion: well trained subjects (group I), trained subjects (group II), and untrained subjects (group III). Pulmonary gas exchange, heart rate, rectal and skin temperature, and weight loss were measured as well as hematocrit and plasma and urine sodium and potassium concentrations. Rectal temperature increased significantly in all subjects after exhaustion. The variation of hematocrit was smallest and the weight loss greatest in the well-trained subjects. Plasma aldosterone, renin activity (PRA), vasopressin (AVP), and neurophysin (Np) displayed highly significant increases after exercise in all three groups: PRA was increased 4.5 times (p < 0.01), aldosterone 13 times (p < 0.05), Np 2.6 times (p pe 0.05), and AVP 4.8 times (p < 0.05). Nevertheless, there was no correlation between the changes in PRA and those in plasma aldosterone, nor between aldosterone and plasma sodium or potassium. At the urinary level, the only striking observation was that free water clearance tends to become positive after exercise. Our results provide evidence that this kind of exercise produces a highly significant increase in plasma levels of the hormones involved in electrolyte and water balance. They also indicate that it is among the well-trained subjects that sweat loss is highest though the hematocrit increase is the smallest; this suggests that water is shifted more efficiently from the extravascular compartment.

The levels of prolactin, FSH, LH, oestradiol and progesterone were measured daily during fourteen ovulatory cycles. The behaviour of FSH, LH, oestradiol and progesterone was classical. Non-systematic changes occurred in prolactin levels during the course of the menstrual cycle with the highest level being either during the ovulatory period or during the luteal phase. However, the mean level of prolactin was significantly higher during the ovulatory and luteal phases than during the follicular phase. A direct relationship between oestradiol and prolactin levels was noted, although there was no correlation between prolactin on the one hand and FSH, LH and progesterone on the other.

SUMMARYThe first results of serum neurphysine determinations by radioimmunoassay in normal man and in several pathological states are reported.Under baseline conditions neurophysine levels are higher in women than in men. In women, moreover, they are elevated during pregnancy and decline rapidly postpartum. During labour and suckling there is no significant change in maternal neurophysine. Neonates, and particularly premature infants, have higher serum neurophysine concentrations than adults.Under certain physiological conditions (water load, dehydration) there is a concordance between serum neurophysine and antidiuresis, whereas these two factors are discordant in states marked by endocrine alterations (anterior pituitary insufficiency, adrenal insufficiency, oestrogen ingestion). A dissociation between neurophysine levels and antidiuresis is also observed during nicotine stimulation by cigarette inhalation. The significance of this dissociation is discussed.Renal insufficiency whether or not treated by dialysis is accompanied by constatly elevated neurophysine levels, while obesity is sometimes although not always associated with a marked increase in neuropysine. A rise in serum neurophysine is seen only rarely in anterior pituitary insufficiency.