Abstract
The respective role of the sex steroids, GH and IGFI increase in the pubertal growth acceleration is not clear. Clinical data suggest that sex steroids have a direct and preponderant effect. Girls with central precocious puberty have an early growth acceleration which is Independent of plasma IGFI level (Horm Res, 1991, p116). 72 boys were evaluated for short stature (<−2SD) and pubertal delay (P1 stage >14 yr). All had GH peak after arginine insulin stimulation >8 ng/ml. They were classified in 2 groups according to their plasma testosterone (T, ng/ml) : Group I 0-1 (0.5 ± 0.1, n=54) and II 1-2 (1.5± 0.2, n=18). The mean age and height level were similar 15 ±0.1/15± 0.2 yr and −3.0±0.1/−3.4 ± 0.2 SD in I/II respectively. m±SE, p<*0.05, ***0.001
T correlated with plasma IGFI (r=0.42, p<0.001) but not with GH peak. Height gain during the preceding year did not correlate with GH peak, IGFI or T.
Conclusion. The Initial Increase in testosterone secretion in boys is accompanied by a significant and important increase in GH peak and in plasma IGFI. In spite of this Increase, growth velocity remains in the prepubertal level. This is at variance with which occurs in girls : a small increase in estradiol secretion induces growth acceleration before incrasing plasma IGFI. These data suggest that the increase in GH/IGFI is not critical for the pubertal growth acceleration in boys and that plasma testosterone levels >2 ng/ml are required to induce growth acceleration and bone age progression.
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Brauner, R., Ramirez, M. & Souberbielle, J. PUBERTAL DELAY IN BOYS AS A MODEL OF THE ROLE OF GH, IGFI AND TESTOSTERONE IN THE PUBERTAL GROWTH. Pediatr Res 33 (Suppl 5), S90 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199305001-00521
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199305001-00521