Zinc, Prolactin, Gonadotropins, and Androgen Levels in Uremic Men

Abstract

This study correlates plasma levels of Zinc (Zn) and some pituitary and testicular hormones in 20 uremic men (aged 17-58 years) on a weekly peritoneal dialysis program. Patients were compared to 12 healthy male volunteers (aged 28-40 years). In uremic men, plasma androstenedione (A) was elevated, while testosterone (T), dihydrotestosterone (DHT), and Zn were low. On a group basis, plasma follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) were normal while prolactin was increased. A negative correlation was observed between plasma A and LH levels, as well as between the AIT+ DHT ratio and plasma Zn concentrations.Our results suggest a diminished A-to-T conversion and point to the possible role of Zn in the enzyme activity of the 17 Phydroxysteroid dehydrogenase.

Low Plasma Zinc and Androgen in Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus

“…Some reports in adult rats have suggested a primary testicular disorder as the cause of these alterations [5]. In patients suffering chronic renal failure, an impaired conversion of A to T secondary to low plasma Zn has been reported [13].…”

“…Low Zn concentrations in plasma have been previously associated with 17a-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17a-OHSD) enzyme activity [13,141. It may be postulated with these results that Zn plays an important role in androgen biosynthesis in diabetic young males, as a metalloenzyme, activator, or protective agent giving support to the membranal enzymes, which is the case for the 17a-OHSD [2].…”

“…Nevertheless, normal plasma luteinizing hormone (LH) and folliclestimulating hormone (FSH) were found combined with normal or abnormal pituitary reserve [3, 4, 8,171. Others have reported that plasma zinc concentrations are frequently low in diabetics [6, 151. Recently, a correlation between plasma Zn and androgen levels in uremic patients has been described [13]. The aim of this study was to correlate the plasma Zn, pertinent pituitary hormones, and testicular androgen concentrations in a group of adolescents with IDDM.…”

Reviews: Altered Laboratory Findings Associated with End‐Stage Renal Disease

“…Basal FSH and LH levels were elevated, though significantly so only for LH. Paniagua et al (71) showed that, in uremic men, plasma androstenedione was elevated, while testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, and zinc were low; overall, average plasma FSH and LH were normal while prolactin was increased (71).…”

Haemodialysis and testicular function

“…In addition, disturbance of other pituitarytarget organ axes have been established such as the pituitaryadrenocortical axis (Rosman et al 1982) whilst hyperprolactinaemia has also been described (Ramirez et al 1977;Peces et al 1981). Several reports indicate a deficiency of trace metals such as zinc (Mahajan et al 1982;Paniagua et al 1982), however incubation for 90 min at 4°C results in a cross-reaction of 70% DHT (Pratt & Woldring 1976), so for the DHT assay samples were incubated for 90 min at 4°C.…”