ABSTRACT
Orchidectomized heterosexual men suffering from prostatic cancer with suppressed serum LH values by oestrogen priming exhibited a slight, but significant surge of LH secretion following oestrogen injection. In contrast, orchidectomized and oestrogen-primed heterosexual men with unsuppressed serum LH levels as well as intact heterosexual men did not display any positive oestrogen feedback action on LH secretion, as it was observed in intact homosexual men.
Subject(s)
Castration , Estrogens, Conjugated (USP)/pharmacology , Feedback , Luteinizing Hormone/metabolism , Aged , Androgens/physiology , Dienestrol/pharmacology , Homosexuality/metabolism , Humans , Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System/physiology , Male , Middle Aged , Sex Differentiation , Time FactorsABSTRACT
The authors note that previous data on the role of biological factors in homosexuality have been suggestive rather than definitive. They investigated hormonal metabolism in heterosexual and homosexual men and found no indication of disturbed functioning in the homosexual subjects. The authors discuss problems with research in this area, suggesting the need for larger samples, attention to the factor of diurnal variations in hormonal secretion, and methodological refinements.
