Influence of a transscrotal testosterone propionate administration on the serum level of selected hormones of the hypophyso-gonadal axis

This study was designed to examine the effect of a percutaneous scrotal administration of testosterone propionate (TP) on selected blood variables, in order to identify a reliable anti-doping probe liable to disclose the illicit use of testosterone. Twelve healthy adult males gave their informed consent for the study. Each morning (8:30) and for 10 consecutive days (D), a placebo (D:1,2,3,...8,9,10) or a testosterone propionate (200 mg TP on D:... 4,5,6,7...) scrotal patch was installed. On D 2 or D 3 (placebo-treated) or D 7 (TP-treated), venous blood samples were collected at 5 min intervals from 9:00 until 13:00. Serum LH, FSH, 17α-hydroxyprogesterone (17HP), testosterone (T), estradiol (E 2) and SHBG contents were analysed by immunoassays. The high sampling frequency revealed that TP was associated with the complete abolition of serum LH pulses. Although statistically significant, TP treatment was not related to explicit changes in serum FSH, E 2, T/E 2 and T/SHBG. TP-induced effects were most significant on serum LH, T and 17HP and were most clearly illustrated by a bi-dimensional distribution plot of serum values of the latter variables. The expression of a combination of the latter parameters could eventually serve to detect testosterone misusers.