title: Plasma dehydroepiandrosterone, its sulfate, testosterone and FSH during puberty of African children in Gabon.
abstract: Plasma levels of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), its sulfate (DHEAS), testosterone (T) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) were measured by radioimmunoassay in 111 schoolboys and 95 schoolgirls from 7 to 18 years. 68 male and 55 female adults aged from 19 to 25 were also investigated. Results are expressed as the mean +/- SD, DHEA was the first hormone to vary showing a significant mean increase between the 10 and 11 year age groups of both boys and girls. Higher levels were observed in the age 12 group (boys 164.70 +/- 60.74; girls 256.60 +/- 145.40 ng/dl) but were followed by a significant decrease in both 13 year old groups. Similar increases followed by decreases were also noted for DHEAS, although the increase started between 11 and 12 years and reached a maximum at 13. An abrupt increase in FSH levels between 11 and 12 years followed by a plateau through 15-18 years, was observed for boys and girls. As expected, T levels increasing significantly in boys with the initial rise between 11 and 12 and a climb through to the 15-18 age group. Our results suggest a late plasma DHEAS secretion with adult levels attained after age 19. Menarche was also found to be late.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging; D002648:Child; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood*; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D005681:Gabon; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011627:Puberty; D012737:Sex Factors; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D013739:Testosterone; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone