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Review
. 2014 Jan;18(1):23-31.
doi: 10.4103/2230-8210.126523.

Thyroid and male reproduction

Anand Kumar  1 , Skand Shekhar  2 , Bodhana Dhole  1
Affiliations
Review

Thyroid and male reproduction

Anand Kumar et al. Indian J Endocrinol Metab. 2014 Jan.

Abstract

Male reproduction is governed by the classical hypothalamo-hypophyseal testicular axis: Hypothalamic gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH), pituitary luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and the gonadal steroid, principally, testosterone. Thyroid hormones have been shown to exert a modulatory influence on this axis and consequently the sexual and spermatogenic function of man. This review will examine the modulatory influence of thyroid hormones on male reproduction.

Keywords: Hyperthyroidism; Leydig cells; Sertoli cells; Tri-iodothyronine; hypothyroidism; sperm function.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: None declared.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Schematic representation of Leydig cell steroidogenesis
Figure 2
Figure 2
(a-c) Serum hormone levels in hypothyroid men. Bar I and II represent mean ± SEM of normal (n= 22) and hypothyroid patients (n= 12) (adapted from Kumar et al, 2007, Andrologia)
Figure 3
Figure 3
Serum LH and estradiol levels in hyperthyroid (n=12) and euthyroid (n= 17) males (adapted from Kumar et al, 2011, Andrologia)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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