The
testosterone plasma level was determined in 5 groups: 1. in 69 normal juveniles and 85 fertile males at the age of 11 to 45 years, 2. in 42 patients with
hypospadia or
epispadia aged 11 to 25 years, 3. in 72 males with
unilateral cryptorchidism at the age of 11 to 45 years, 4. in 83 males with
bilateral cryptorchidism aged 11 to 45 years and 5. in 106 patients with
Klinefelter's syndrome at the age of 16 to 45 years. A pubertal increase of the
testosterone plasma level was found to begin in subjects with
cryptorchidism or
Klinefelter's syndrome at a similar age as in the control group. However, as early as at the age of 13 to 14 years decreased
testosterone values were found in the patients as compared to normal juveniles. Between 19 and 20 years, the plasma
testosterone level was significantly decreased in all patient-groups as compared to the controls of similar age. In adulthood, plasma
testosterone concentrations in the patient groups were observed to be 4 to 6 ng/ml without significant age-dependent changes, which are characteristic of normospermic males. Different degrees of clinical symptoms indicating
androgen deficiency found in various patient groups despite similar
androgen levels in adulthood suggest a different responsiveness of their target organs to
androgens.