Effect of synthetic luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone on the release of gonadotropins in hypophysogonadal disorders of children and adolescents

The effects of LH-RH on FSH and LH were studied in 39 prepuberal boys with undescended testes and in 18 normal prepuberal boys. The mean basal levels of LH and FSH and the mean peak level of FSH after administration of LH-RH did not differ significantly between the two groups but the mean peak level of LH was significantly (p≤0.01) lower in those with undescended testes. This may correlate with a delay of gonadotropic secretion in boys with undescended testes. But, as two boys among the 39 studied had undetectable LH and FSH serum levels which failed to increase after LR-RH, inclusion of hypogonadotropic patients in the group must be considered as an alternative hypothesis.