DIE TESTOSTERONAUSSCHEIDUNG IM HARN BEI MÄNNLICHEN INDIVIDUEN

The urinary excretion of testosterone in 59 male individuals divided in »ten years« age groups (overall range 12–82 years) was determined according to the method of Voigt et al.(1964). This method does not necessitate the use of isotopes.Testosterone excretion increases after puberty and reaches between 25 and 35 years a mean maximum level of 70 μg/24 hours. In puberty and in adolescence mean testosterone excretion is 35 μg/24 hours, i. e.only one half of the amount present in the third decade of life. During the sixth and seventh decade testosterone excretion returns to the values of puberty and adolescence, i. e.to a mean value of 35 μg.It is thus evident that increasing age is accompanied by a significant reduction in testosterone excretion which reflects the physiological involution of the endocrine function of the testes.