Effects of testosterone administration on nocturnal cortisol secretion in healthy older men

J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2010 Nov;65(11):1185-92. doi: 10.1093/gerona/glq128. Epub 2010 Jul 30.

Abstract

In animal studies, testosterone decreases, whereas estrogen increases, cortisol production. In one clinical study, short-term testosterone replacement attenuated corticotrophin-releasing hormone-stimulated cortisol secretion during leuprolide-induced hypogonadism in young men. The effects of longer term testosterone treatment on spontaneous cortisol secretion in younger or older men are unknown. In a randomized, double-masked placebo-controlled study, we assessed the effects of testosterone supplementation (100 mg intramuscular every 2 week) for 26 weeks on nocturnal cortisol secretory dynamics in healthy older men. Testosterone administration increased early morning serum concentrations of free testosterone by 34%, decreased sex hormone-binding globulin by 20%, and did not alter early morning concentrations of cortisol-binding globulin or cortisol compared with placebo treatment. Testosterone did not significantly alter nocturnal mean and integrated cortisol concentrations, cortisol burst frequency, mass/burst, basal secretion, pulsatile cortisol production rate, pattern regularity, or approximate entropy. We conclude that low-dose testosterone supplementation for 26 weeks does not affect spontaneous nocturnal cortisol secretion in healthy older men.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Circadian Rhythm / physiology*
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Estrogens / administration & dosage
  • Estrogens / blood
  • Estrogens / pharmacology
  • Female
  • Human Growth Hormone / administration & dosage
  • Human Growth Hormone / blood
  • Human Growth Hormone / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • Hydrocortisone / metabolism*
  • Linear Models
  • Male
  • Placebos
  • Progestins / administration & dosage
  • Progestins / blood
  • Progestins / pharmacology
  • Radioimmunoassay
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / metabolism
  • Testosterone / administration & dosage
  • Testosterone / blood
  • Testosterone / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Estrogens
  • Placebos
  • Progestins
  • Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin
  • Human Growth Hormone
  • Testosterone
  • Hydrocortisone