title: [Plasma androgens in boys from birth to adolescence (author's transl)].
abstract: Plasma testosterone, androstenedione, dehydroepiandrosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate were measured by radioimmunoassay in 222 normal boys aged 1 hour to 18 years and 40 normal men aged 20 to 40 years. Three periods of high testosterone levels were observed in boys during extra-uterine life: first day (mean level 12 nmol/l), from the 12th to the 119th day (9 nmol/l) and from 13 years onwards in pubertal boys; the highest values were  reached between 20 and 40 years (18 nmol/l). Androstenedione curve exhibited three coincident high concentrations phases: mean level at birth 8.7 nmol/l, and from 12th to 119th day 2.6 nmol/l. The lowest values were observed between 2 and 4 years; then a progressive increase occured up to adult age levels: 3.5 nmol/l. Dehydroepiandrosterone mean level was high at birth (20 nmol/l) then decreased slowly, either regularly or with a rebound during the 2nd month, a minimum being reached between 2 and 4 years (0.28 nmol/l). It increased thereafter exponentially up to adult levels reached after the age of 16 years (14 nmol/l). Dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate mean level decreased regularly from birth to the second year, then its curve paralleled the dehydroepiandrosterone curve.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000728:Androgens / Q000097:blood*; D000735:Androstenedione / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens; D013739:Testosterone; D000735:Androstenedione; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone
vernacular_title: Les androgènes plasmatiques chez le garçon de la naissance à l'adolescence.