Impotence and Diabetes: Studies of Androgenic Function in Diabetic Impotent Males

Abstract

Androgenic function was studied in seven diabetics with sexual impotence and in five patients with paraplegia. Plasma concentration of testosterone was measured before and after administration of 5,000 U. of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG). Steroid biosynthesis by testicular tissue was studied in vitro and testicular morphology was evaluated by light and electron microscopy. The diabetic patients were also evaluated neurologically. Motor conduction velocity, electromyography of the quadriceps and the function of urinary bladder were studied. Plasma concentration of testosterone was in the normal range in basal conditions in impotent diabetics (mean 578 ± 234 mμg./100 ml.) and paraplegics (mean 788 ± 184 mμg./ 100 ml.). After stimulation with HCG, impotent diabetics showed a mean value of 1,523 ± 314 mμg./100 ml. In vitro steroid biosynthesis by testicular homogenates of diabetics and paraplegics was normal. The morphology of the interstitial tissue was normal in patients with diabetes or paraplegia. Subcellular characteristics of Leydig cells were also normal. In the tubules, a marked hypospermatogenesis with desquamation of the germinal epithelium was observed in the two groups in all patients. Alterations of the motility of the bladder were seen in six diabetics and all paraplegics. Motor conduction velocity was abnormal in the diabetics. It is concluded that in our patients androgenic function was normal, and therefare impotence can not be attributed to hormonal deficieney.

Specific psychiatric moridity among diabetics at a Nigerian General Hospital

“…Specific mental disorders Generalised anxiety 3 (6) 3 (6) Mild depressive disorder 1 (2) 3 (6) Cognitive deficits, consisting only of subjective memory problems, were present in only one subject each of the two illness groups. The control group of subjects had no symptoms of mental disorder.…”

“…In developed countries, psychiatric symptoms, such as irritability, anxiety, depression, suicidal ideas and cognitive deficits have been widely reported among DM patients especially those who are insulin dependent (3,4). A wide range of neuropsychiatric complications have been reported, including, peripheral neuropathy, erectile impotence, organic brain syndrome and dyskinesia (1,(5)(6)(7).…”

Does sexual dysfunction correlate with deterioration of somatic sensory system in diabetic women?

“…[1][2][3][4][5][6] Numerous medical researches have shown that, prevalence of sexual dysfunction in men as a consequence of the degenerative effects of diabetes on vascular and neurogenic structures ranges from 35 to 75%. 1,[7][8][9][10][11][12] It has also been documented that the etiology of ED may be neurogenic in up to 82% of diabetic men. 1 However, sexual dysfunction in diabetic women at neurogenic factors has not been investigated in detail.…”

Semen Characteristics and Diabetes Mellitus: Significance of Insulin in Male Infertility

“…The testis volume of diabetics may be reduced [16], become atrophic [33], or show histopathologic alterations (i.e., tubular atrophy and hypospermatogenesis) [6,10,27,341.…”