Blood levels of leptin, steroid hormones Cl9, C21, and insulin in males with impaired reproductive function

Abstract

Sixty-nine males aged 18-57 years, who had different impaired reproductive function and the body mass index (BMI) in the range of 20 to 40 kg/m², were examined. In the patients, the baseline values of leptin, cortisole, corticosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHA) and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHAS), progesterone, 17-hydroxyprogesterone, testosterone, and insulin were measured by using current radioimmunoassay and enzyme immunoassay. In the examinees, the mean values of all the hormones varied in the physiological normal range with deviations being in some patients. The patients with higher leptin levels were found to have also elevated adrenal hormones, such as corticosterone, cortisole, DHA and DHAS vice versa. This was not accompanied by differences in BMI and in the levels of insulin and testosterone. Analysis of the content of hormones in relation to the level of insulin indicated that there is a positive correlation of the level of insulin and leptin. However, this relationship was multifactorial, which had a possible modifying effects of BMI and the level of testosterone.