title: [FSH, LH, PRL, E2 and T in 8-17 year old males: investigation and analysis].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the changes of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), prolactin (PRL), estradiol (E2) and testosterone (T) in male adolescents of different ages by determining their levels in 8-17 years old boys.
  
  
  METHODS
  We included in this study 627 male adolescents aged 8-17 years and qualified through physical examinations. All the subjects underwent determination of FSH, LH, PRL, E2 and T with an automatic ACCESS microparticle chemiluminescence immunoassay analyzer and detection of liquid quality control by immunoassay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  FSH remained at a low level in the 8-10 years old male adolescents and increased at 11 years; the levels of LH and T were low before the age of 12 years and began to increase at 13 years; and that of E2 was low before the age of 13 years and began to rise after that, all with statistically significant differences (P < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the male adolescents, FSH, LH and T significantly increased at 11, 12 and 13 years old, respectively, which marked the beginning of sexual development.
authors.affiliation: Wuhu Jinling Hospital, Wuhu, Anhui 241000, China. doctor_wensl@sohu.com
authors.forename: Shuang-lun
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.forename: Jian-ping
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Li-sheng
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Jia-cai
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xue-lin
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jin-tao
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Yuan-cheng
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Ya-ping
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Guo-she
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yue-long
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Jin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D044466:Asian People; D002648:Child; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood*; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood*; D013334:Students; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D013739:Testosterone; D004958:Estradiol; D011388:Prolactin; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone