Abstract
LH and FSH secretion was examined in 6 normal boys and 6 boys with primary hypogonadism (HG) by measuring plasma levels at 15 min intervals for 6 h during day and night with a supersensitive (0.019 IU/l and 0.014 IU/l) time-resolved immunofluorometric assays. In each group 5 boys were at stage PI and 1 at P2. At stage P1 the mean concentration of LH was significantly higher at night than during day in 3 of the 5 boys in each group, FSH levels were higher only in 1 normal boy and 1 with HG. LH and FSH pulses were detected in all boys. Of the LH and FSH pulses 62% occured at night and had higher amplitudes than daytime pulses. Forty percent of the pulses consisted of both LH and FSH. Mean FSH levels and pulse amplitudes were higher (p<0.001) in HG than in normal boys. (Table)
At stage P2 the mean concentrations, pulse amplitudes and frequencies of LH and FSH were higher than at P1, and the boy with HG had 10 times higher levels than the normal boy. Our results show, that even in prepuberty the gonads appear to control the gonadotrophin secretion, which is pulsatile already before puberty.
Article PDF
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Dunkel, L., Alfthan, H., Stenman, UH. et al. GONADAL CONTROL OF PULSATILE SECRETION OF LB AND FSB IN PREPUBERTAL BOYS. Pediatr Res 23, 113 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198801000-00074
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198801000-00074