Further studies on the effects of heroin addiction on the hypothalmic-pituitary-gonadal function in man

The effects of chronic heroin addiction on LH biological and immunological activity, as well as on total and free testosterone concentrations, were investigated in 8 active young male addicts. Mean basal values of LH biological activity, serum levels of immunoreactive LH, total testosterone and LH bio/immuno (b/i) ratio observed in heroin addicts were similar to those obtained in the control group. In contrast, serum levels of free testosterone (FT) and the mean FT/T ratio were significantly reduced in heroin addicts. A significant decrease of LH b/i ratio was observed during naloxone infusion in the normal subjects.