Evaluation of Testosterone, Dihydrotestosterone and Gonadotropins among Long Distance Drivers in Benin City, Nigeria

Background: Reseach reports over the years have pointed to the vulnerability of the testes to heat and other physical agents of cell damage.A possible source of intense heat is the drivers' seat of heavy duty trucks and trailers.For the drivers of these vehicles, testicular heat is likely to occur, and initial injury/damage within the testes is likely accompanied by an increase in the serum concentration of FSH and LH from the anterior pituitary gland.This research was aimed at evaluating the serum concentration of Testosterone, Dihydrotestosterone (DHT), Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) and Luteinizing Hormone (LH) in drivers of heavy duty trucks and trailers (long distance drivers), as compared to values obtained from age-matched control subjects.Method: This study was carried out on drivers of heavy duty trucks.A total of sixty (60) subjects and sixty controls were recruited for this study.Venous blood was collected and serum extracted for the evaluating the parameters.ELISA method -an enzyme immunoassay test which follows a typical two-step capture or "sandwich" type assay, was used for the laboratory estimation of these hormones.Data obtained was analyzed using SPSS.Result: There was significant difference in the FSH concentration (at p<0.001) and LH concentration (p<0.05) in long distance drivers as against control subjects.DHT and Testosterone however did not differ significantly between the study and control groups.Both ANOVA and Correlation studies showed that these elevations in FSH and LH increase with intensity of heat, and duration of contact with the seat.Among the parameters, DHT and Testosterone correlated positively (r = 0.697, p<0.001);FSH and LH also correlated positively (r = 0.607, p<0.001); while DHT correlated negatively with FSH concentration (r = -0.460,p<0.001).Age also significantly correlated positively with FSH contration (p<0.01).Conclusion: In conclusion, the aberrations observed in the concentration of parameters measured in this study indicate that there is significant hypergonadotropism due to prolonged exposure to testicular heat among these subjects.