Gonadal function in low birth weight infants: a pilot study.
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.
Sir-Petermann
Teresa
T
Endocrinology and Metabolism Laboratory, West Division, School of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago. tsir@med.uchile.cl
Hitchsfeld
Catalina
C
Codner
Ethel
E
Maliqueo
Manuel
M
Iñiguez
Germán
G
Echiburú
Bárbara
B
Sánchez
Fernando
F
Crisosto
Nicolas
N
Cassorla
Fernando
F
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
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