TY - JOUR
T1 - Characterization of Leydig Cell Dysfunction in Previous Illicit Androgen Users
AU - Bulut, Yeliz
AU - Brandt-Jacobsen, Niels
AU - Madsen, Rasmus
AU - Thevis, Mario
AU - Frystyk , Jan
AU - Albrethsen, Jakob
AU - Jørgensen, Niels
AU - Juul, Anders
AU - Kistorp, Caroline
AU - Rasmussen, Jon Jarløv
N1 - © The Author(s) 2025. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Endocrine Society. All rights reserved. For commercial re-use, please contact [email protected] for reprints and translation rights for reprints. All other permissions can be obtained through our RightsLink service via the Permissions link on the article page on our site—for further information please contact [email protected]. See the journal About page for additional terms.
PY - 2025/10/16
Y1 - 2025/10/16
N2 - BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: A few studies have explored the impairment of pituitary gonadotroph and Leydig cell function in men who recently ceased illicit androgen use, as assessed by stimulation tests. However, the capacity of the pituitary-testis axis in previous users who discontinued androgen use years ago remains unclear. This study evaluated the pituitary-testis-axis capacity in previous illicit androgen users and nonusers.METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study of recreational strength training men with (n = 30) and without (n = 26) a history of illicit androgen use. Previous users were subdivided into 2 subgroups based on detectable (group 1, n = 17) and undetectable (group 2, n = 13) performance-enhancing drugs in the urine.We performed gonadotropin-releasing hormone and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) stimulation tests. Serum LH was measured with immunoassay, total testosterone, and insulin-like factor 3 with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Sexual function was assessed using the 15-question International Index of Erectile Function questionnaire.RESULTS: Elapsed duration since androgen cessation, geometric mean (95% confidence interval), was 1.9 (1.2; 3.0) years in previous androgen users. The mean (SD) age of all participants was 33 (8) years.Testosterone secretion after hCG injection was lower in previous users than nonusers: group 1 difference, -6.4 (-11.3; -1.5) nmol/L, (P = .031); group 2 difference, -14.2 (-19.5; -8.8) nmol/L, (P < .001). LH secretion did not differ between the groups.Multivariate linear regressions using erectile function as a dependent variable revealed that higher testosterone secretion during the hCG test (P = .046) was independently associated with better erectile function, whereas baseline serum testosterone (P = .780) and estradiol (P = .405) were not.CONCLUSION: Previous illicit androgen users exhibited decreased Leydig cell capacity 2 years after androgen cessation, which potentially influences erectile function.
AB - BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: A few studies have explored the impairment of pituitary gonadotroph and Leydig cell function in men who recently ceased illicit androgen use, as assessed by stimulation tests. However, the capacity of the pituitary-testis axis in previous users who discontinued androgen use years ago remains unclear. This study evaluated the pituitary-testis-axis capacity in previous illicit androgen users and nonusers.METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study of recreational strength training men with (n = 30) and without (n = 26) a history of illicit androgen use. Previous users were subdivided into 2 subgroups based on detectable (group 1, n = 17) and undetectable (group 2, n = 13) performance-enhancing drugs in the urine.We performed gonadotropin-releasing hormone and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) stimulation tests. Serum LH was measured with immunoassay, total testosterone, and insulin-like factor 3 with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Sexual function was assessed using the 15-question International Index of Erectile Function questionnaire.RESULTS: Elapsed duration since androgen cessation, geometric mean (95% confidence interval), was 1.9 (1.2; 3.0) years in previous androgen users. The mean (SD) age of all participants was 33 (8) years.Testosterone secretion after hCG injection was lower in previous users than nonusers: group 1 difference, -6.4 (-11.3; -1.5) nmol/L, (P = .031); group 2 difference, -14.2 (-19.5; -8.8) nmol/L, (P < .001). LH secretion did not differ between the groups.Multivariate linear regressions using erectile function as a dependent variable revealed that higher testosterone secretion during the hCG test (P = .046) was independently associated with better erectile function, whereas baseline serum testosterone (P = .780) and estradiol (P = .405) were not.CONCLUSION: Previous illicit androgen users exhibited decreased Leydig cell capacity 2 years after androgen cessation, which potentially influences erectile function.
KW - Adult
KW - Androgens/adverse effects
KW - Chorionic Gonadotropin
KW - Cross-Sectional Studies
KW - Humans
KW - Leydig Cells/drug effects
KW - Luteinizing Hormone/blood
KW - Male
KW - Middle Aged
KW - Testosterone/blood
KW - Anabolic androgenic steroids
KW - Testosterone
KW - Male hypogonadism
KW - Androgen abuse
KW - Erectile function
U2 - 10.1210/clinem/dgaf157
DO - 10.1210/clinem/dgaf157
M3 - Article
C2 - 40052766
SN - 0021-972X
VL - 110
SP - e3709-e3718
JO - The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism
JF - The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism
IS - 11
ER -