[FSH, LH, PRL, E2 and T in 8-17 year old males: investigation and analysis].
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.
Wen
Shuang-lun
SL
Wuhu Jinling Hospital, Wuhu, Anhui 241000, China. doctor_wensl@sohu.com
Xu
Jian-ping
JP
Chen
Li-sheng
LS
Ma
Bo
B
Zhang
Jia-cai
JC
Li
Xue-lin
XL
Ma
Jin-tao
JT
Xu
Yuan-cheng
YC
Shen
Ya-ping
YP
Li
Guo-she
GS
Jin
Yue-long
YL
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*
D013739:Testosterone; D004958:Estradiol; D011388:Prolactin; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone