Question

A 38-year-old male is upset about his low sperm count and visits a "practitioner" who commonly advertises his miracle cures of sterility. The practitioner is a quack who treats conditions of low sperm count with megadoses of testosterone. The patient experiences a huge surge in libido. Would this treatment result in a higher or lower sperm count, and why?

1) Lower sperm count. High levels of testosterone directly inhibit spermatogenesis.
2) Higher sperm count. High levels of testosterone enhance the release of GnRH, enhancing the release of FSH and LH, resulting in increased spermatogenesis.
3) Lower sperm count. High levels of testosterone inhibit the release of GnRH, inhibiting LH release, resulting in direct inhibition of spermatogenesis.
4) Higher sperm count. High levels of testosterone enhance the release of GnRH, enhancing the release of FSH, resulting in increased spermatogenesis.
5) Lower sperm count. High levels of testosterone inhibit the release of GnRH, inhibiting FSH release, resulting in direct inhibition of spermatogenesis.

Answer 1

Administering megadoses of testosterone for low sperm count actually results in a lower sperm count due to the inhibition of GnRH, FSH, and LH release, which are essential for normal spermatogenesis.

Step-by-step explanation:

When treating a male for low sperm count with megadoses of testosterone, the sperm count would likely become lower, not higher.

This is because high levels of testosterone have a negative feedback effect on the hypothalamus and anterior pituitary gland, leading to a decrease in the release of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and luteinizing hormone (LH).

As FSH is crucial for spermatogenesis, and LH is necessary to stimulate testosterone production in the Leydig cells, the inhibition of these hormones reduces spermatogenesis.

Thus, excessive testosterone supplementation inhibits the natural hormonal pathways that sustain normal sperm production.

Answer 2

The treatment with megadoses of testosterone would result in a lower sperm count. High levels of testosterone inhibit the release of GnRH, leading to the suppression of LH release, which directly inhibits spermatogenesis. Option 3 is the correct answer.

Step-by-step explanation:

Testosterone, the male sex hormone, plays a crucial role in the regulation of the reproductive system. However, excessive doses of testosterone can disrupt the normal hormonal feedback loop. Option 3 accurately describes the process:

Option 3 (Lower sperm count): High levels of testosterone inhibit the release of GnRH (Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone), which subsequently inhibits the release of LH (Luteinizing Hormone). LH is essential for stimulating the production of testosterone and, in turn, spermatogenesis. The direct inhibition of LH release results in a decrease in sperm production, leading to a lower sperm count.

This explanation aligns with the physiological mechanisms involved in testosterone feedback regulation within the male reproductive system.

Option 3 is the answer.