Summary
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of repeated administrations of ACTH 1–17 (Syncrodyn 1–17) on sexual and endocrine function in men with psychogenic impotence. Twenty adult impotent men from 21 to 48 years volunteered for this study; organic causes of erectile impotence were excluded in each subject. Ten subjects were treated with ACTH 1–17 (100 μg i.m. daily for 15 days during 6 consecutive months), whereas saline was injected in the control group (10 subjects) following the same protocol. Clinical and endocrine evaluation were performed before and at the end of treatment. Serum levels of LH, FSH, PRL, testosterone (T) and cortisol were measured by RIA methods. To investigate diurnal rhythms of T and cortisol, blood samples were taken at 08∞ and at 18∞. In ACTH 1–17-treated men a significant improvement in sexual function was shown when compared with the control group (p<0.05); moreover, both anxiety and fatigability were lowered by ACTH 1–17 administration. ACTH 1–17 did not affect basal levels of LH, FSH, PRL, T and cortisol, whereas the diurnal variation of T, which was absent before treatment in both treated and control group, was restored. No changes in clinical and endocrine parameters were shown afterplacebo injections. Our data emphasize that the chronopharmacological action of ACTH 1–17 may positively affect sexual function and circadian T rhythmicity in men with psychogenic impotence.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Barachini G. F., Zaidi A. A., Montanini V., Celani M. F., Cioni K., Carani C., Cavani D., Acnati L. F., Morabito F., Resentini M., Cogliati F., Bonati B., Marrama P.: Changes in biologically active serum luteinizing hormone at different ages: methodological problems. In:D’Agata R., Lipsett M. B., Polosa P., van der Molen H. J. (Eds): Recent advances in male reproduction: molecular basis and clinical implications. Raven Press, New York, 1983; p. 279.
Bertolini A., Vergoni W., Gessa G. L., Ferrari W.: Induction of sexual excitement by the action of adrenocorticotrophic hormone in brain—Nature (Lond.)221, 567, 1969.
Bremner W. L., Vitiello M. V., Prinz P. N.: Loss of circadian rhythmicity in blood restosterone levels with aging in normal men—J. clin. Endocrinol.56, 1278, 1983.
De Wied D.: Effects of peptide hormones on behavior. In:Ganong W. F., Martini L. (Eds): Frontiers in neuroendocrinology. Oxford Univ. Press, London, 1969; vol. 1, p. 97.
De Wied D., Bohus B., Urban I., Van Wimersma Greidanus T. B.: Pitnitary peptides on motivational, learning and memory processes. In:Airaksinen M. (Ed.): CNS and behavioural pharmacology. Pergamon Press, Oxford, 1975; p. 19.
De Wied D., Jolles J.: Neuropeptides derived from pro-opiocortin: behavioral, physiological, and neurochemical effects—Physiol. Rev.62, 976, 1982.
Haun C. K., Haltmeyer G. C.: Effects of an intraventricular injection of synthetic ACTH on plasma testosterone, progesterone and LH levels and of sexual behavior in male and female rabbits—Neuroendocrinology19, 201, 1975.
Mac Lean P. D.: An evolutionary approach to the investigation of psychoneuroendocrine functions. In:Lissak K. (Ed.): Hormones and brain functions. Plenum Press, New York, 1973; p. 379.
Marrama P., Carani C., Baraghini G. F., Volpe A., Zini D., Celani M. F., Montanini V.: Circadian rhythm of testosterone and prolactin in the ageing—Maturitas4, 131, 1982.
Miyatake A., Mcrimoto Y., Oishi T., Hanasaki N., Sugita Y., Hjima S., Teshima Y., Hishikawa Y., Yamamura Y.: Circadian rhythm of serum testosterone and its relation to sleep: comparison with the variation in serum luteinizing hormone, prolactin, and cortisol in normal men—J. clin. Endocrinol.51, 1365, 1980.
Reinberg A., Brière L., Fraboulet G., Guillemant S., Touitou Y., Lagoguey M., Guillemant J., Dupont W., Guillet Ph., Nicolai A.: Clinical chronopharmacology of ACTH 1–17. III. Effects on fatigue, oral temperature, heart rate, grip strength and bronchial patency— Chronobiologia8, 101–115, 1981.
Reinberg A., Dupont W., Touitou Y., Lagoguey M., Bourgeois Ph., Touitou C., Muriaux G., Przyrowsky D., Guillemant S., Guillemant J., Brière L., Zeau B.: Clinical chronopharmacology of ACTH 1–17. II. Effects on plasma testosterone, plasma aldosterone, plasma and urinary electrolytes (K, Na, Ca and Mg)—Chronobiologia8, 11–31, 1981.
Reinberg A., Guillemant S., Ghata N. J., Guillemant J., Touitou Y., Dupont W., Lagoguey M., Bourgeois Ph., Brière L., Fraboulet G., Guillet Ph. Clinical chronopharmacology of ACTH 1–17. I. Effects on plasma cortisol and urinary 17-hydroxycorticosteroids—Chronobiologia7, 513–523, 1980.
Sandman C. A., Kastin A. J., Shally A. V.: Neuropeptide influences on the central nervous system: a psychobiological perspective. In:Hrdina P. D., Singhal R. L. (Eds): Neuroendocrine regulation and altered behavior. Plenum Press, New York, 1981; p. 87.
Soulairac A., Desclaux A. P., Soulairac M. L., Teysseyre J.: Action de la corticostimuline sur le comportement sexuel du rat mâle normal et ètude concomitante des modifications du système nerveux central et de l’hypophyse antèrieure—J. Physiol. (Paris)45, 527, 1953.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Marrama, P., Carani, C., Celani, M.F. et al. ACTH 1–17 effects in psychogenic impotence. La Ricerca Clin. Lab. 14, 233–238 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02904977
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02904977