Follicle-stimulating hormone and human spermatogenesis.

Bremner WJ, Matsumoto AM, Sussman AM, Paulsen CA

The Journal of clinical investigation1 Oct 1981Cited by 52 (Europe PMC)

PMID6793629PMCIDPMC370892DOI10.1172/jci110327PepBankPUB-06793629

Summary

The text of this summary is not shown here, because the article license does not allow reuse. Read it at the source (opens in a new tab)

Text rights: Publisher copyright. Results still quote short attributed sentences.

Results from this study6

1 result from studies that gave the peptide. 1 result from people.

01HumanNon-randomized trialEfficacy outcome
In normal men, adding hCG to testosterone increased sperm counts to 46 million/ml compared with testosterone alone.
In plain wordsIn normal men, adding hCG to testosterone increased sperm counts compared with testosterone alone.
Peptide
hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin)
Outcome
IncreaseSperm count
Study
n = 5
Comparator
Testosterone alone
Outcome group
Sex hormones and fertility · Reproductive and sexual health
Studied dose
5,000 IU three times weekly · intramuscularAs given in this study (human).
Measurements
Sperm count during hCG plus testosterone
46 million/ml
mean; SE 16; hCG plus T period in normal men
Sperm count standard error, hCG plus testosterone
16 million/ml
hCG plus T period
Sperm count, testosterone alone
1 million/ml
mean during T administration alone
Sperm count standard error, testosterone alone
1 million/ml
T administration alone
P value for sperm count, hCG plus testosterone versus testosterone alone
< 0.001
hCG plus T versus T alone
Source sentences
Summary
With the addition of hCG to T, sperm counts returned toward normal (46+/-16 million/ml, P < 0.001 compared with T alone).
Summary
Sperm counts (performed twice monthly throughout the study) were markedly suppressed during T administration alone (1.0+/-1.0 million/ml mean+/-SE, compared with 106+/-28 million/ml during the control period, P < 0.001).
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
We studied the effect of an experimentally-induced, selective FSH deficiency on sperm production in normal men.
Summary · context
Then, while continuing T, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) 5,000 IU i. m. three times weekly was administered simultaneously to replace LH activity, leaving FSH activity suppressed.
Report a problemFND-0679362901

Studies that did not test the peptide alone5

In this study, hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. These results are not evidence about taking hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin).

02HumanNot a test of hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) aloneNon-randomized trialEfficacy outcome
During hCG plus testosterone, sperm counts returned to the individual control range in two normal men.
In plain wordsDuring hCG plus testosterone, sperm counts returned to the individual control range in two normal men.
Peptide
hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin)
Outcome
IncreaseReturn to control sperm count range
Study
n = 5
Outcome group
Sex hormones and fertility · Reproductive and sexual health
Measurements
Subjects whose sperm count returned into individual control range
2 subjects
hCG plus T period; five men studied
Source sentences
Summary
In two subjects, sperm counts during hCG plus T returned into the individual's control range.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
We studied the effect of an experimentally-induced, selective FSH deficiency on sperm production in normal men.
Summary · context
Then, while continuing T, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) 5,000 IU i. m. three times weekly was administered simultaneously to replace LH activity, leaving FSH activity suppressed.
In this study, hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin).
Report a problemFND-0679362902
03HumanNot a test of hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) aloneNon-randomized trialEfficacy outcome
Sperm motility remained normal in all men during hCG plus testosterone.
In plain wordsSperm movement remained normal in all men during hCG plus testosterone.
Peptide
hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin)
Outcome
No significant changeSperm motility
Study
n = 5
Outcome group
Sex hormones and fertility · Reproductive and sexual health
Source sentences
Summary
Sperm motility and morphology were consistently normal in all men during hCG plus T.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
We studied the effect of an experimentally-induced, selective FSH deficiency on sperm production in normal men.
Summary · context
Then, while continuing T, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) 5,000 IU i. m. three times weekly was administered simultaneously to replace LH activity, leaving FSH activity suppressed.
In this study, hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin).
Report a problemFND-0679362903
04HumanNot a test of hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) aloneNon-randomized trialEfficacy outcome
Sperm morphology remained normal in all men during hCG plus testosterone.
In plain wordsSperm shape remained normal in all men during hCG plus testosterone.
Peptide
hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin)
Outcome
No significant changeSperm morphology
Study
n = 5
Outcome group
Sex hormones and fertility · Reproductive and sexual health
Source sentences
Summary
Sperm motility and morphology were consistently normal in all men during hCG plus T.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
We studied the effect of an experimentally-induced, selective FSH deficiency on sperm production in normal men.
Summary · context
Then, while continuing T, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) 5,000 IU i. m. three times weekly was administered simultaneously to replace LH activity, leaving FSH activity suppressed.
In this study, hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin).
Report a problemFND-0679362904
05HumanNot a test of hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) aloneNon-randomized trialMechanism
In normal men, serum FSH was suppressed to undetectable levels during hCG plus testosterone, and also during testosterone alone, compared with the control period.
In plain wordsIn normal men, blood FSH fell to undetectable levels during hCG plus testosterone, and also during testosterone alone, compared with the control period.
Peptide
hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin)
Outcome
DecreaseSerum FSH
Study
n = 5
Comparator
Control period
Outcome group
Sex hormones and fertility · Reproductive and sexual health
Measurements
Serum FSH, control period
110 ng/ml
mean; SE 10; control period
Serum FSH, T alone and hCG plus T periods
< 25 ng/ml
undetectable levels in T alone and hCG plus T periods
Serum FSH standard error, control period
10 ng/ml
control period
Source sentences
Summary
Serum FSH levels by RIA were normal (110+/-10 ng/ml) in the control period and were suppressed to undetectable levels (<25 ng/ml) in the T alone and hCG plus T periods.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
We studied the effect of an experimentally-induced, selective FSH deficiency on sperm production in normal men.
Summary · context
Then, while continuing T, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) 5,000 IU i. m. three times weekly was administered simultaneously to replace LH activity, leaving FSH activity suppressed.
In this study, hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin).
Report a problemFND-0679362905
06HumanNot a test of hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) aloneNon-randomized trialMechanism
In normal men, urinary FSH excretion was markedly suppressed during hCG plus testosterone, and also during testosterone alone, compared with the control period.
In plain wordsIn normal men, urinary FSH was lower during hCG plus testosterone, and also during testosterone alone, than during the control period.
Peptide
hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin)
Outcome
DecreaseUrinary FSH
Study
n = 5
Comparator
Control period
Outcome group
Sex hormones and fertility · Reproductive and sexual health
Measurements
Urinary FSH excretion, control period
334 mIU/h
mean; SE 78; control period
Urinary FSH excretion, T alone
60 mIU/h
mean; SE 15; T alone period
Urinary FSH excretion, hCG plus T
37 mIU/h
mean; SE 9; hCG plus T period
Urinary FSH excretion standard error, control period
78 mIU/h
control period
Urinary FSH excretion standard error, testosterone alone
15 mIU/h-2nd IRP
T alone period
Urinary FSH excretion standard error, hCG plus testosterone
9 mIU/h
hCG plus T period
P value for urinary FSH excretion, testosterone alone versus control
< 0.01
T alone versus control period
P value for urinary FSH excretion, hCG plus testosterone versus control
< 0.01
hCG plus T versus control period
Source sentences
Summary
Urinary FSH excretion was markedly suppressed in the T alone (60+/-15 mIU/h-2nd IRP, P < 0.01) and hCG plus T (37+/-9 mIU/h, P < 0.01) periods compared with the control period (334+/-78 mIU/h).
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
We studied the effect of an experimentally-induced, selective FSH deficiency on sperm production in normal men.
Summary · context
Then, while continuing T, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) 5,000 IU i. m. three times weekly was administered simultaneously to replace LH activity, leaving FSH activity suppressed.
In this study, hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin).
Report a problemFND-0679362906

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

Version history

PepBank keeps every version of the data on this study. Status changes from Retraction Watch, Europe PMC and Crossref are listed with their source.

Version 2Current
14 Oct 2026, 05:02 UTC
Study results updated
Version 1
14 Oct 2026, 01:46 UTC
First added · source update from Europe PMC

Subjects

Terms as the source lists them.

Publication types

MeSH terms

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