Testosterone and Testosterone Binding Globulin (TeBG) in Young Men during Prolonged Stress

Abstract

The effect of prolonged physical and psychological stress on the testicular function was studied in 8 students (age 22–25 years) of the Norwegian Academy of War during a combat course of 5 days' duration. The average urinary excretion of free cortisol and 17‐ketogenic steroids was 81 and 129% higher than the respective control values one week after the course. Plasma cortisol levels increased from 21.7 μg/100 ml at 8 a. m. before the course to 24.6 (P < 0.05), and serum HGH rose from undetectable levels, < 0.08 ng/ml, to an average value of 12.9 ng/ml ± 3.7 (SD) at 8 a. m. during the course. A marked suppressive effect on plasma testosterone levels from 5.6 ng/ml ± 1.4 to 0.9 ± 0.5, and no adjustment to stress was observed over a 5 day period. TeBG increased gradually from 26.9 nmol/l ± 9.9 to 52.7 ± 17.7 on day 6, followed by a slow decrease without reaching control values on day 12, suggesting that the decreased plasma testosterone levels probably reflect reduced production and not increased metabolism of testosterone. LH fluctuated during the course, but was significantly higher in the morning immediately following the end of the course than at the start (P < 0.02). It is postulated that the effect of stress on the plasma testosterone levels is mediated via an action both on the hypothalamus‐pituitary level and on the testis.

Research Methodology: Endocrinologic Measurements in Exercise Science and Sports Medicine

“…For example, emotionally distraught individuals typically have elevated basal catecholamine, growth hormone, cortisol, and prolactin levels. 1,[66][67][68] Those hormones with highly circadian patterns (eg, luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, adrenocorticotropic hormone, cortisol) can demonstrate shifts in their characteristic patterns when sleep cycles are disrupted. 36,39,[66][67][68][69][70] Factors such as stress and sleep deprivation also can influence the hormonal response to exercise and exercise training.…”

Novel insights into the neuroendocrinology of critical illness

“…A variety of catabolic states are indeed accompanied by low serum testosterone levels in men. These conditions include starvation (68,69), the postoperative phase (53), myocardial infarction (54), burn injury (70, 71), psychological and physical stress (72,73) and prolonged critical illness (56).…”

Growth Related Hormones in Idiopathic Scoliosis:An Endocrine Basis for Accelerated Growth

“…Testosterone was determined by radioimmunoassay after paper chromatographic isolation according to Naess et al (1976). Sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) determinations were performed by equilibrium dialysis as described by Aakvaag et al (1978), thyroxine and cortisol by radioimmunoassay according to the description by the same authors. The other hormone assays were carried out according to previous publications for FSH and L H (Sand & Torjesen 1973, Torjesen et al 1974, prolactin ( R u t h et al 1977) and oestradiol (Fossi et al 1977).…”