Lack of endogenous opioid inhibitory tone on LH secretion in early puberty.
Thirteen normal children, seven males and six females, during early puberty (I-II according to Tanner), have been studied. Each subject was injected at weekly intervals and in random order with 100 micrograms of LHRH, 0.2 mg/kg of naloxone and 0.9% saline in single bolus. The gonadotrophin response was evaluated. The administration of naloxone failed to elevate LH levels in any of the subjects studied, even in those who showed a clear gonadotrophin response to LHRH. Unlike the response noted in adults, endogenous opiates do not appear to exert a tonic inhibitory influence on LH secretion during early puberty.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D004723:Endorphins / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D009270:Naloxone / Q000494:pharmacology; D011627:Puberty; D012636:Secretory Rate / Q000187:drug effects
D004723:Endorphins; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D009270:Naloxone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone