title: Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteninizing hormone (LH) in the urine of prepubertal children.
abstract: Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) have been measured by specific bioassays in pooled urine samples from prepubertal children, aged 2-6 yr, and from male adults. For children the mean urinary excretion of FSH was 2.2 U 2nd International Reference Preparation (2nd IRP) per liter and the mean urinary excretion of LH was 0.44 U 2nd IRP per liter. For adults the mean FSH excretion was 5.6 U 2nd IRP per liter and the mean LH excretion was 4.7 U 2nd IRP per liter. Our data show a 2.5-fold increase of FSH, a 10.7-fold increase of LH, and a consequent decrease in the FSH: LH ratio from 5 to 1 between childhood and adulthood. FSH and LH in urine from three patients with gonadal abnormalities have also been studied. The results from normal children, adults, and abnormal patients form a spectrum and reveal that sexual maturity is accompanied by a marked increase in the excretion of LH with relatively smaller increases in FSH.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D001681:Biological Assay; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000652:urine*; D006801:Humans; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000652:urine*; D008297:Male; D011627:Puberty; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone