Abstract
Previously we have used time series analysis techniques to determine the ultradian pulsatile secretory rhythms of plasma gonadotropin (and testosterone) secretion in male monkeys during sexual development (JCEM 56:1214 & 1227, 1983) as well as monthly urinary gonadotropin rhythms in premenarchal girls (Science 190: 161, 1975). Here we utilized this methodology to determine whether prepubertal and pubertal boys have gonadotropin cycles greater than one day duration. Ten healthy boys (4 prepubertal and 6 pubertal), ages 10 4/12 to 15 2/12, volunteered to collect timed nocturnal and first morning urine specimens for at least 2 months (consecutive series of daily urine collections varied from 62 to 78 days). The urinary gonadotropins were precipitated with acetone after pH adjustment with acetic acid. Precipitates, containing both LH and FSH, were dissolved in buffer and measured by specific radioimmunoassay. Mean LH secretion was 1.16 ± 0.32 IU/h (range 0.47-2.01) for Tanner Stage I boys and 2.46 ± 0.20 (range 1.76-3.22) for Tanner Stage II-V males (P < 0.005, prepubertal vs. pubertal). Mean FSH concentration was 0.36 ± 0.09 (range 0.11-0.54) in Stage I boys and 0.76 ± 0.26 (range 0.13-1.84) in stage II-V males (P=NS). Time series analysis suggested the presence of a gonadotropin urinary frequency cycle of approximately 2-3 days both in prepubertal and pubertal males. Further studies are necessary to determine the significance of these rhythms.
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Bercu, B., Hansen, J., Denman, D. et al. ULTRASEPTAN URINARY GONADOTROPIN RHYTHMS IN PERIPUBERTAL BOYS. Pediatr Res 18 (Suppl 4), 164 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198404001-00426
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198404001-00426