Abstract
Sex hormones circulate in complex with two major serum proteins: SHBG and albumin (HSA). We have recently reported that there is a progressive decrease in the serum concentration of SHBG throughout male prepuberty. A computer program was used to calculate the distribution of serum T into SHBG-bound, non-SHBG-bound, HSA-bound and free fractions in 70 normal prepubertal boys, aged 0.5 to 12 y. The calculation was derived from the experimental measurements of serum T and SHBG assuming unique values for serum HSA and for the affinity binding constants. Non-SHBG-bound T, presumably the fraction of serum hormone that is available for transport into tissues in vivo, increased progressively from 1.44 - 0.5 ng/dl (X̄ ± S.E.) at 0.5 y. to 10 ± 4.4 at 12 y. (r=0.47, p< 0.001), before any clinical signs of sexual development became apparent. Free T also changed in a similar fashion. These values can be compared with those of normal adult males (n=10) and females (n=7): 390 ± 63 and 12.7 ± 1.8 respectively. It is proposed that the gradually increasing androgen and estrogen milieu of the brain created by this mechanism might be of physiological significance in inducing the onset of puberty in normal boys.
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Belgorosky, A., Rivarola, M. PROGRESSIVE INCREASE IN NON-SEX HORMONE-BINDING GLOBULIN (SHBG)-BOUND TESTOSTERONE (T) FROM INFANCY TO LATE PREPUBERTY. Pediatr Res 20, 1183 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198611000-00055
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198611000-00055