Question

Consider a professional baseball player who is taking a male androgen, a compound similar in structure to testosterone (so similar his hypothalamus thinks it is testosterone). This athlete is taking the androgen for the purpose of increasing muscle mass so that he can improve his power hitting.

1. How would hormone secretion from the hypothalamus and anterior pituitary change in response to this exogenous (from an external source) androgen exposure?
2. How would endogenous (body’s own production) testosterone secretion in this case change with exposure to exogenous androgens?

Answer 1

As the person is taking exogenous androgens that are similar to testosterone, it exerts a negative feedback response on the hypothalamus and anterior pituitary which causes decreased production of gonadotrophin releasing hormone from the hypothalamus and follicle stimulating hormone and leutinizing hormone from the anterior pituitary.

As the trophic hormones for the synthesis of testosterone (follicle stimulating hormone and leutinizing hormone) are decreased, this results in decreased production of endogenous testosterone production

In simple words exogenous androgens will reduced the production of endogenous testosterone

Hope this helps.... Thank you!!!