Tuberc Respir Dis.  2017 Oct;80(4):385-391. 10.4046/trd.2016.0027.

Larger Testicular Volume Is Independently Associated with Favorable Indices of Lung Function

• Kim TB
• Park IN

• KMID: 2420581
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4046/trd.2016.0027

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Men with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, have reduced endogenous testosterone levels, but the relationship between pulmonary function and endogenous testosterone levels, is inconsistent. Testicular volume is a known indicator of endogenous testosterone levels, male fertility, and male potency. In the present study, the authors investigated the relationship, between testicular volume and lung function.
METHODS
One hundred and eighty-one South Korean men age 40-70, hospitalized for urological surgery, were retrospectively enrolled, irrespective of the presence of respiratory disease. Study subjects underwent pulmonary function testing, prior to procedures, and testicular volumes were measured by orchidometry. Testosterone levels of patients in blood samples collected between 7 AM and 11 AM, were measured by a direct chemiluminescent immunoassay.
RESULTS
The 181 study subjects were divided into two groups, by testicular volume (≥35 mL vs. <35 mL), the larger testes group, had better lung functions (forced vital capacity [FVC]: 3.87±0.65 L vs. 3.66±0.65 L, p=0.037; forced expiratory volume in 1 second [FEV1]: 2.92±0.57 L vs. 2.65±0.61 L, p=0.002; FVC % predicted: 98.2±15.2% vs. 93.8±13.1%, p=0.040; FEV1 % predicted: 105.4±19.5% vs. 95.9±21.2%, p=0.002). In addition, the proportion of patients with a FEV1/FVC of <70%, was lower in the larger testes group. Univariate analysis conducted using linear regression models, revealed that testicular volume was correlated with FVC (r=0.162, p=0.029), FEV1 (r=0.218, p=0.003), FEV1/FVC (r=0.149, p=0.046), and FEV1 % predicted (r=0.178, p=0.017), and multivariate analysis using linear regression models, revealed that testicular volume was a significant predictive factor for FEV1 % predicted (β=0.159, p=0.041).
CONCLUSION
Larger testicular volume was independently associated, with favorable indices of lung function. These results suggest that androgens, may contribute to better lung function.

Keyword

Respiratory Physiological Phenomena; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive; Respiratory Function Tests; Testis; Testosterone

MeSH Terms

Androgens
Fertility
Forced Expiratory Volume
Humans
Immunoassay
Linear Models
Lung*
Male
Multivariate Analysis
Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive
Respiratory Function Tests
Respiratory Physiological Phenomena
Retrospective Studies
Testis
Testosterone
Vital Capacity
Androgens
Testosterone

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