title: Adrenal steroid, cortisol, adrenocorticotropin, and beta-endorphin responses to human corticotropin-releasing hormone stimulation test in normal children and children with premature pubarche.
abstract: To determine whether CRH affects adrenal androgen, beta-endorphin (B-E), and ACTH secretion in normal children during sexual maturation, 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP), androstenedione (D4-A), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), DHEA sulfate (DS), cortisol, B-E, and ACTH were measured after an iv injection of 1 microgram/kg human CRH. Children with premature pubarche were similarly analyzed to establish whether this condition is accompanied by altered hormonal responses to CRH. CRH produced consistent increases in ACTH, B-EP, and cortisol blood levels, which were comparable at all age intervals in all groups. 17-OHP increased after CRH injection, but its response linearly with age. D4-A levels were not influenced, while DHEA and DS levels were only partially influenced by CRH. The stimulated D4-A to 17-OHP ratio increased with sexual maturation, whereas ratios of cortisol to 17-OHP and D4-A to DHEA remained constant. Children with premature pubarche had hormonal responses similar in magnitude to those of prepubertal children of comparable age. In conclusion, an increase in 17,20-desmolase efficiency occurs with postnatal maturation after CRH challenge. Moreover, CRH does not appear to play an important role in premature pubarche.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ghizzoni
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Virdis
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ziveri
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lamborghini
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alberini
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Volta
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bernasconi
mesh_terms: D019326:17-alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone; D000293:Adolescent; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D000367:Age Factors; D000728:Androgens / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D006908:Hydroxyprogesterones / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D011629:Puberty, Precocious / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012016:Reference Values; D001615:beta-Endorphin / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens; D006908:Hydroxyprogesterones; D001615:beta-Endorphin; D019326:17-alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone; D006854:Hydrocortisone