title: Diurnal rhythms of luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, testosterone, and estradiol secretion before the onset of female puberty in short children.
abstract: To investigate hormonal changes before the onset of female puberty, we measured LH and FSH in serum samples drawn every 20 min for 24 h and measured testosterone and estradiol hourly for 24 h. Seventeen girls (13 prepubertal and 4 early pubertal) of short stature, from 5.1-11.4 yr of age, participated in this study. LH and FSH were measured using a time-resolved immunofluorometric assay, and testosterone and estradiol were measured using a sensitivity RIA capable of detecting testosterone and estradiol concentrations of 10 and 2 pg/mL, respectively. Diurnal rhythms of LH, FSH, and testosterone were apparent in all subjects, including those aged 5-6 yr. Serum LH and FSH concentrations showed night-day variation in a pulsatile fashion. The serum testosterone concentration was elevated in the early morning in all subjects. The serum estradiol concentration was elevated in the early morning in 4 of 13 prepubertal subjects and all 4 early pubertal subjects. The diurnal pattern of the serum estradiol concentration was similar to that of the serum testosterone concentration. Mean 24-h LH and testosterone concentrations in prepubertal subjects who did not attain puberty for at least 1 yr were 0.07 U/L and 65 pg/mL, respectively, whereas those in prepubertal subjects who attained puberty within 1 yr (0.14 U/L and 106 pg/mL, respectively) were significantly higher. Furthermore, mean 24-h LH, FSH, testosterone, and estradiol concentrations increased with the onset of puberty. In conclusion, the diurnal rhythms of LH, FSH, and testosterone already exist at 5-6 yr of age, and serum LH and testosterone levels increase before the onset of puberty. These results suggest that preparation for the onset of female puberty may begin in 5- to 6-yr-old girls.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Asahikawa Medical College, Japan.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mitamura
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yano
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Makita
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Okuno
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism; D001827:Body Height / Q000502:physiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D008572:Menarche / Q000502:physiology; D011627:Puberty / Q000502:physiology*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D013739:Testosterone; D004958:Estradiol; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone