Achievement of spermatogenesis and genital tract maturation in hypogonadotropic hypogonadic subjects during long term treatment with gonadotropins or LHRH.

15 subjects with Hypogonadotropic Hypogonadism (HH) were treated with either gonadotropins (13 cases) or pulsatile subcutaneous Luteinizing Hormone Releasing Hormone (LHRH) (2 cases) for up to 42 months, to study the effects of therapy step by step. The following results were obtained: (A) In postpubertal HH (5 cases = Group A), therapy brought about onset of spermatogenesis within 3 months and its normalization within 6 months. In HH of prepubertal onset (10 cases = Group B), spermatogenesis started within 9 to 21 months and became normal in only 3 cases after at least 18 months. The best sperm counts were obtained in Group A in the third month of treatment (41.75 +/- 43.68 mil./ml) and in Group B in the 36th month (14.87 +/- 17.06 mil./ml). Sperm motility was normal in the majority of the cases in Group A from the beginning but did not become normal in Group B. (B) Seminal fructose and zinc were normal from the beginning of therapy in 66% of the cases in both groups. Zinc became normal in 100% within 3 months in Group A, in Group B within 18. Carnitine was normal in 50% of cases in both groups, contemporaneous with sperm appearance. Transferrin was normal in Group A after appearance of spermatozoa, but in Group B never became normal. (C) We hypothesize that the recovery of fertility passes through the following stages: (1) Functional recovery of Leydig cells, followed by seminal vesicles and prostate. (2) Recovery of epididymal function, which probably implies beginning of the tubular function. Recovery of Sertoli cell function occurs with more difficulty.