Elevated serum levels of estradiol, dihydrotestosterone, and inhibin B in adult males born small for gestational age.
BACKGROUND
Prenatal growth restriction may affect future fertility in both females and males. Studies have shown that growth-retarded male rats have different sexual behavior and disturbed steroidogenesis.


OBJECTIVE
We hypothesized that adult human males born small for gestational age (SGA) have an altered sex hormone profile.


METHODS
Twenty-five adult males born SGA with median birth weight -2.2 sd scores (SDS) and birth length -2.4 SDS were studied. Median age was 23.1 yr and final height -0.5 SDS. They were compared with 44 male controls with median age 20.5 yr and final height 0.4 SDS.


METHODS
The primary outcome before the study started was 17beta-estradiol (E(2)) levels in SGA males.


RESULTS
The SGA group showed significantly higher median levels of E(2), 17.9 pg/ml (P < 0.001), and dihydrotestosterone (DHT), 0.543 ng/ml (P < 0.05), compared with controls, 12.6 pg/ml and 0.423 ng/ml, respectively. Testosterone (T) levels did not differ between groups. E(2) to T ratio correlated negatively to birth weight (r = -0.40, P < 0.01) and birth length (r = -0.44, P < 0.001). DHT to T ratio correlated negatively to birth weight (r = -0.51, P < 0.001) and birth length (r = -0.38, P < 0.01). Males born SGA also had significantly higher median levels of inhibin B, 164 pg/ml (P < 0.05), compared with controls, 137 pg/ml. Inhibin B correlated negatively to birth length (r = -0.34, P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
SGA males of normal stature have higher levels of E(2), DHT, and inhibin B than controls, indicating a disturbed steroid synthesis or metabolism. Aromatase activity, calculated as E(2) to T ratio, and 5alpha-reductase activity, calculated as DHT to T ratio, is negatively correlated to size at birth.
Allvin
K
K
Göteborg Pediatric Growth Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Institute of Clinical Sciences, The Sahlgrenska Academy at Göteborg University, S-416 85 Göteborg, Sweden. kerstin.allvin@vgregion.se
Ankarberg-Lindgren
C
C
Fors
H
H
Dahlgren
J
J
D052242:Adiponectin / Q000097:blood; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone / Q000097:blood*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007236:Infant, Small for Gestational Age; D007265:Inhibins / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male
C499918:ADIPOQ protein, human; D052242:Adiponectin; C422364:inhibin B; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone; D004958:Estradiol; D007265:Inhibins