Hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadotropic function in girls with premature thelarche.
Hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadotropic activity was investigated in 9 girls with premature thelarche, and compared with that in 9 healthy girls and 6 girls with true precocious puberty. The gonadotropin stimulation test with luteinising hormone-releasing hormone was used. Girls with premature thelarche showed luteinising hormone response resembling that of normal girls, and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) response quite similar to that of girls with precocious puberty. This suggests that in premature thelarche there is a partial activation of the diencephalic-hypophyseal-gonadal axis, which affects FSH only. Premature thelarche therefore, should be considered as one of the disorders due to altered sensitivity of the hypothalamic receptors which regulate sex maturation.
D001940:Breast / Q000254:growth & development*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D006065:Gonadotropins, Pituitary / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007223:Infant; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D011629:Puberty, Precocious / Q000503:physiopathology
D006065:Gonadotropins, Pituitary; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone