title: Serum androgen bioactivity is low in children with premature adrenarche.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Clinical findings in children with premature adrenarche (PA) correlate only partly with circulating levels of adrenal androgens. It is not known whether the prepubertal low circulating concentrations of testosterone (T) and dihydrotestosterone, together with those of adrenal androgens, are capable of activating the androgen receptor.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional study was performed at a university hospital. Circulating androgen bioactivity was measured in 67 prepubertal children with clinical signs of PA and 94 control children using a novel androgen bioassay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Circulating androgen bioactivity was low in the PA and control children. In the subgroup of children (n = 28) with serum T concentration over the assay sensitivity (0.35 nmol/l) and a signal in the androgen bioassay, we found a positive correlation between androgen bioactivity and serum T (r = 0.50; P < 0.01) and the free androgen index (r = 0.61; P < 0.01) and a negative correlation with serum sex hormone-binding globulin concentration (r = -0.41; P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Peripheral metabolism of adrenal androgen precursors may be required for any androgenic effects in PA. However, the limitations in the sensitivity of the bioassay developed herein may hide some differences between the PA and control children.
authors: Department of Pediatrics, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland.
authors: Jani
authors: J
authors: Liimatta
authors: Department of Pediatrics, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland.
authors: Saila
authors: S
authors: Laakso
authors: Department of Pediatrics, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland.
authors: Pauliina
authors: P
authors: Utriainen
authors: Department of Pediatrics, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland.
authors: Raimo
authors: R
authors: Voutilainen
authors: Institute of Biomedicine, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.
authors: Jorma J
authors: JJ
authors: Palvimo
authors: 1] Institute of Biomedicine, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland [2] Institute of Dentistry, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.
authors: Tiina
authors: T
authors: Jääskeläinen
authors: Department of Pediatrics, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland.
authors: Jarmo
authors: J
authors: Jääskeläinen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000378:metabolism; D050499:Adrenarche / Q000097:blood*; D000328:Adult; D000728:Androgens / Q000097:blood*; D000818:Animals; D001681:Biological Assay; D019556:COS Cells; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011629:Puberty, Precocious / Q000097:blood; D011944:Receptors, Androgen / Q000378:metabolism; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / Q000378:metabolism; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens; D011944:Receptors, Androgen; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone; D013739:Testosterone