title: Gonadal function in low birth weight infants: a pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate gonadal function and anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) serum concentrations during the first 3 months of life in low birth weight (low-BW) and normal birth weight (normal-BW) infants. INFANTS: Twenty low-BW and 29 normal-BW infants were studied.
  
  
  METHODS
  The pituitary-gonadal axis was evaluated by a GnRH agonist test (leuprolide acetate, 10 microg/kg s.c.). Circulating concentrations of gonadotropins, steroid hormones, sex hormone binding globulin, inhibin B and AMH were determined by specific assays.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In both sexes, basal concentrations of gonadotropins, sex steroids, sex hormone binding globulin and inhibin B were similar between low-BW and normal-BW infants. However, AMH concentrations were significantly higher in low-BW compared to normal-BW females (p = 0.004). This was not observed in males. After leuprolide administration, estradiol concentrations were higher in low-BW compared to normal-BW females (p = 0.043). In males, post-stimulated sex steroid concentrations were similar in both groups except for 17-OHP, which was significantly higher after leuprolide in the low-BW group (p = 0.023).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An increase in AMH and post-stimulated estradiol serum concentrations suggests altered follicular development in low-BW girls. In contrast, the normal circulating levels of AMH and inhibin B seem to indicate that Sertoli cell function is normal in low-BW boys. We suggest that ovarian function seems to be more vulnerable than testicular function in infants with intrauterine growth restriction.
authors: Endocrinology and Metabolism Laboratory, West Division, School of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago. tsir@med.uchile.cl
authors: Teresa
authors: T
authors: Sir-Petermann
authors: Catalina
authors: C
authors: Hitchsfeld
authors: Ethel
authors: E
authors: Codner
authors: Manuel
authors: M
authors: Maliqueo
authors: Germán
authors: G
authors: Iñiguez
authors: Bárbara
authors: B
authors: Echiburú
authors: Fernando
authors: F
authors: Sánchez
authors: Nicolas
authors: N
authors: Crisosto
authors: Fernando
authors: F
authors: Cassorla
mesh_terms: D000735:Androstenedione / Q000097:blood; D054304:Anti-Mullerian Hormone; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D001724:Birth Weight; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight / Q000097:blood*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007265:Inhibins / Q000097:blood; D016729:Leuprolide; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D010053:Ovary / Q000502:physiology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000502:physiology; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / Q000378:metabolism; D013735:Testicular Hormones / Q000097:blood; D013737:Testis / Q000502:physiology*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D006023:Glycoproteins; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin; D013735:Testicular Hormones; C422364:inhibin B; D013739:Testosterone; D000735:Androstenedione; D004958:Estradiol; D007265:Inhibins; D054304:Anti-Mullerian Hormone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D016729:Leuprolide