[General problems of endocrinology of the male sexual system: structural and functional organization, etiopathogenesis of insufficiency of the sexual glands and their major dysfunctions].

The reproductive system implements the fundamental biological function of preserving and maintaining the process of life. Gametogenesis provides reproduction of the whole organism, and steroidogenesis, through the influence of sex hormones on the process of gene transcription, is involved in the cell reproduction of private protein substances in this organism. Reproduction is the main and most complex property of life. The concept of physiology and pathology of the sex glands described in this work is based on a synthesis of facts and principles of fundamental biomedical sciences with the results of our own clinical studies on the etiopathogenesis of disorders of male reproductive function, on understanding the relationships between the sexual and hormon-secreting cells in gonads from the perspective of the general biological role and ontogenesis of the sexual systems, theories of functional systems. The productive subordination of sex and somatic cells (without it any life is impossible in general biological terms) can be clearly seen during ontogenesis both in physiology and in the genesis of genital gland dysfunction.

[The epidemiology of infertility in families]. / Epidemiologiia besplodiia v sem'e.

This study of epidemiology of infertility in families has employed the guidelines of the WHO Program on Human Reproduction. The study involved 1976 infertile couples. It elucidated major diagnosis-related groups in the female and male population and data sets of the couples. The basis of infertility remained uncertain in only 2.1% of the families. Infertility was underlied only by a female reproductive disease in 44.4% of the families, with about half of these cases being endocrine disorders. Diseases of husbands, primarily varicocele and primary testicular lesions, accounted for infertility in 19.3% of the families. Determinants of infertility in both spouses were identified in 34.2% of the families, mostly genital inflammatory diseases.

[Gonadotropic insufficiency in men with disorders of spermatogenesis]. / Gonadotropnaia nedostatochnost' u muzhchin s narusheniiami spermatogeneza.

The results of the investigation of 111 male patients with azoospermia, oligozoospermia and asthenoteratozoospermia revealed gonadotropic insufficiency in 28 (25.2%). The mean level of LH in the peripheral blood of the patients (4.36 +/- 0.70 IU/l) did not differ significantly from the indices in the control group (5.71 +/- 0.64 IU/l). The blood FSH level (0.86 +/- 0.13 IU/l) was significantly lower than the control one (4.48 +/- 0.44 IU/l), p less than 0.001. The level of testosterone in 14 patients was within normal. The clinical signs of hypogonadism were slightly expressed, gynecomastia and anosmia were absent. In 6 of 11 patients the response of FSH to LH-RH i. v. injection was either absent or sharply decreased. The LH response was absent in 2 patients. A conclusion has been made that disorder of spermatogenesis can be the only noticeable manifestation of isolated insufficiency of FSH secretion by the pituitary gland.