title: Circulating antimüllerian hormone levels in boys decline during early puberty and correlate with inhibin B.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate peripheral levels of inhibin B and antimüllerian hormone (AMH) in boys during peripuberty and in patients with congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (HH).
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized, placebo-controlled trial (peripubertal boys); and cross-sectional clinical study (males with HH).
  
  
  METHODS
  University central hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-eight peripubertal boys with idiopathic short stature (ISS), 19 males with Kallmann syndrome.
  
  
  METHODS
  Letrozole (2.5 mg/day) or placebo in boys with ISS for 2 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  Longitudinal follow-up observation of serum AMH and its relationship with inhibin B during early puberty and the influence of high (letrozole-treated boys) and low (males with HH) gonadotropin exposure on circulating AMH.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In boys with ISS receiving placebo, the decrease in AMH levels and the increase in inhibin B levels were correlated. The serum AMH level had already declined before a clinically significant increase in testis volume or serum testosterone occurred. Letrozole did not appear to modulate the decline in AMH. The AMH levels were lower in boys and young adults with Kallmann syndrome and prepubertal testes (mean: 20.9 ± 4.7 ng/mL, n = 6) as compared with prepubertal ISS boys (102.3 ± 11.9 ng/mL).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The gonadotropin-mediated early pubertal increase in inhibin B is tightly coupled to decrease in AMH levels and may reflect androgen-mediated differentiation of Sertoli cells. Profound gonadotropin deficiency is associated with low AMH levels, suggesting impaired development of the Sertoli cell population.
authors.affiliation: Children's Hospital, Helsinki University Central Hospital (HUCH), Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Matti
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hero
authors.forename: Johanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tommiska
authors.forename: Kirsi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vaaralahti
authors.forename: Eeva-Maria
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Laitinen
authors.forename: Ilkka
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sipilä
authors.forename: Lea
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Puhakka
authors.forename: Leo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dunkel
authors.forename: Taneli
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Raivio
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D054304:Anti-Mullerian Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D047072:Aromatase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D015536:Down-Regulation; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007006:Hypogonadism / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D007265:Inhibins / Q000097:blood*; D017436:Kallmann Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D000077289:Letrozole; D008297:Male; D009570:Nitriles / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010919:Placebos; D011627:Puberty / Q000097:blood*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014230:Triazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D047072:Aromatase Inhibitors; D015415:Biomarkers; D009570:Nitriles; D010919:Placebos; D014230:Triazoles; C422364:inhibin B; D007265:Inhibins; D000077289:Letrozole; D054304:Anti-Mullerian Hormone