title: Hormone changes in peripubertal girls.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Studies of hormone changes in the peripubertal period note increases in adrenal hormones prior to increases in sex steroids. It is unclear how these processes are related to each other, except through this temporal relationship.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Examine relationships in adrenal and sex hormones in 252 peripubertal girls.
  
  
  METHODS
  Longitudinal observation study. School districts, at the Cincinnati site of the Breast Cancer and the Environment Research Centers, between 2004-2010. Participants were recruited between ages 6 and 7 years of age and were seen every 6 months. Main outcome measures included height, weight, maturation status, and fasting blood specimen. Serum was analyzed for selected hormones every six months, beginning 30 months prior to, and extending to 6 months after, breast development. Androstenedione, estradiol, estrone, and T were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with tandem mass spectrometry. Dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEA-S) and SHBG also were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  DHEA-S concentrations increased 24 months before breast development; androstenedione and estrone between 12 to 18 months before breast development; whereas estradiol and T increased, and SHBG fell between 6 and 12 months before breast development. Girls with greater body mass index had lower estradiol concentrations at onset of breast development as well as 6 months after pubertal onset.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serum estrone and DHEA-S increased prior to estradiol concentrations, and the increase in estradiol occurred prior to breast development. Heavier peripubertal girls have lower estradiol levels at puberty, suggesting peripheral conversion of adrenal androgens to estrone.
authors.affiliation: Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center (F.M.B., B.H., E.R.B.); Department of Environmental Health (S.M.P.), University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229; Esoterix Laboratories, Endocrine Sciences (D.W.C.), Calabasas Hills, California 91301; and the Pennsylvania State University (L.D.D.), University Park, Pennsylvania 16801.
authors.forename: Frank M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Biro
authors.forename: Susan M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Pinney
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Erin R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.forename: Donald
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Walt Chandler
authors.forename: Lorah D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Dorn
mesh_terms: D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D050499:Adrenarche / Q000097:blood*; D000735:Androstenedione / Q000097:blood; D001940:Breast / Q000254:growth & development; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development / Q000502:physiology; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate / Q000097:blood; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006728:Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D010053:Ovary / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D011627:Puberty / Q000097:blood*; D018123:Receptors, Interleukin / Q000097:blood; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / Q000378:metabolism; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D006728:Hormones; C112441:IL27RA protein, human; D018123:Receptors, Interleukin; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin; D013739:Testosterone; D000735:Androstenedione; D004958:Estradiol; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate