Abstract
Serum and plasma concentrations of ACTH, beta-endorphin (B-EN), dehydroepiandrosterone (DEA), dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DS), 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP), androstenedione (D4) and cortisol (f) were leasured before and after i.v.administration of 1μg/Kg of CRF (CRF 1-41, Nova-Biocehem, CH) in 9 patients with PP (8F, 1M, mean age 6.9±1.2yrs, bone age 7.6±1.3yrs ) and in 9 children with Tanner stages II-III (CC)(5F, 4M, mean age 11.5±1.2yrs, bone age 11.2±1.5yrs). The same hormones were measured before and after i.v. injection of 0.25 mg. ACTH (Synacten) in the same subjects. The results obtained can be summarized as follows: CRF test; 1)No differences in baseline and peak plasma levels of ACTH and B-EN between the 2 groups:2) Peak serum DEA levels ΔDEA values significantly lower in PP than in CC(peaks 1.77±0.9 v.s.s3.12±1.02 ng/ml. p < 0.025, x±SD; Δ 0.12±0.47v.s.1.18±0.87 p < 0.025); 3) Peak 17-OHP serum levels significantly higher in PP compared to CC(1.23±0.24 v.s. 0.81±0.3 ng/ml, p < 0.025); 4) Peak D4/peak 17-OHP ratio significantly lower in PP than in CC(0.57±0.17v.s.1.26±0.46, p < 0.01). ACTH test:baseline and peak serum levels of all measured hormones similar in the 2 groups. In conclusion, different androgen responses to CRF administration seem to be independent from ACTH and B-EN secretion. In PP, under CRF stimulation, the apparent C17-20 lyase activity does not appear to be functioning as in children with same degree of pubic hair development but with associated gonadarche. Whether this difference in enzyme efficiency is due to the action of a hypothalamic-pituitary factor other than ACTH and B-EN, or to intrinsic adrenal changes is still unclear.
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Ghizzoni, L., Virdis, R., Luglio, I. et al. 164 HUMAN CORTICOTROPIN-RELEASING FACTOR (CRF) ARO ACTH TEST IN PREMATURE PUBARCHE (PP). Pediatr Res 24, 544 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198810000-00185
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198810000-00185