Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, Vol 42, 679-686, Copyright © 1976 by Endocrine Society

ARTICLES

Pituitary-gonadal relations in infancy: 2. Patterns of serum gonadal steroid concentrations in man from birth to two years of age

JS Winter, IA Hughes, FI Reyes and C Faiman

Testosterone, estradiol, 170H-progesterone, and androstenedione (except in cord samples) concentrations were determined in cord sera (30 male and 14 female) and in peripheral sera from infants (121 male and 110 female), age 1 day to 2 years. Male and female cord serum levels of these steroids were not significantly different. In both sexes levels during the first week were lower than those in cord sera. In male infants serum testosterone and 170H-progesterone levels rose sharply in the second week of life, reached a peak at 1-2 months, and then declined to the range seen in later childhood by 6 months of age; male serum androstenedione and estradiol concentrations were higher during the first 2 months of life, but no distinct pattern of rise and fall was seen. In girls serum testosterone levels fell in the first week to the range seen throughout childhood; serum concentration of estradiol, androstenedione, and 17OH-progesterone in girls were markedly variable, with many values above the childhood range being seen, particularly in the first 6 months. These data provide further evidence of active Leydig cell function in male infants. They suggest that there is also ovarian secretion of sex steroids in some female infants in response to the elevated FSH and LH levels which are seen at this time.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				E.A.M. Kuijper, J. van Kooten, J.I.M.L. Verbeke, M. van Rooijen, and C.B. Lambalk Ultrasonographically measured testicular volumes in 0- to 6-year-old boys Hum. Reprod., April 1, 2008; 23(4): 792 - 796. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. Aksglaede, J. H Petersen, K. M Main, N. E Skakkebaek, and A. Juul High normal testosterone levels in infants with non-mosaic Klinefelter's syndrome Eur. J. Endocrinol., September 1, 2007; 157(3): 345 - 350. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Ben-David, N. Zuckerman-Levin, M. Epelman, Z. Shen-Orr, M. Levin, P. Sujov, and Z. Hochberg Parturition Itself Is the Basis for Fetal Adrenal Involution J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., January 1, 2007; 92(1): 93 - 97. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. A. van Tijn, E. J. Schroor, H. A. Delemarre-van de Waal, J. J. M. de Vijlder, and T. Vulsma Early Assessment of Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Gonadal Function in Patients with Congenital Hypothyroidism of Central Origin J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., January 1, 2007; 92(1): 104 - 109. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. M Main, J. Toppari, and N. E Skakkebaek Gonadal development and reproductive hormones in infant boys Eur. J. Endocrinol., November 1, 2006; 155(suppl_1): S51 - S57. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A.-M. Suomi, K. M. Main, M. Kaleva, I. M. Schmidt, M. Chellakooty, H. E. Virtanen, K. A. Boisen, I. N. Damgaard, C. M. Kai, N. E. Skakkebaek, et al. Hormonal Changes in 3-Month-Old Cryptorchid Boys J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., March 1, 2006; 91(3): 953 - 958. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Simard, M.-L. Ricketts, S. Gingras, P. Soucy, F. A. Feltus, and M. H. Melner Molecular Biology of the 3{beta}-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase/{Delta}5-{Delta}4 Isomerase Gene Family Endocr. Rev., June 1, 2005; 26(4): 525 - 582. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C Tomlinson, H Macintyre, C A Dorrian, S F Ahmed, and A M Wallace Testosterone measurements in early infancy Arch. Dis. Child. Fetal Neonatal Ed., November 1, 2004; 89(6): F558 - F559. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A L Ogilvy-Stuart and C E Brain Early assessment of ambiguous genitalia Arch. Dis. Child., May 1, 2004; 89(5): 401 - 407. [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. M. Lee Reproductive Hormones in Infant Girls--a Harbinger of Adult Reproductive Function? J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., August 1, 2003; 88(8): 3513 - 3514. [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Chellakooty, I. M. Schmidt, A. M. Haavisto, K. A. Boisen, I. N. Damgaard, C. Mau, J. H. Petersen, A. Juul, N. E. Skakkebaek, and K. M. Main Inhibin A, Inhibin B, Follicle-Stimulating Hormone, Luteinizing Hormone, Estradiol, and Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin Levels in 473 Healthy Infant Girls J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., August 1, 2003; 88(8): 3515 - 3520. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. A. Quigley The Postnatal Gonadotropin and Sex Steroid Surge--Insights from the Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., January 1, 2002; 87(1): 24 - 28. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Bouvattier, J.-C. Carel, C. Lecointre, A. David, C. Sultan, A.-M. Bertrand, Y. Morel, and J.-L. Chaussain Postnatal Changes of T, LH, and FSH in 46,XY Infants with Mutations in the AR Gene J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., January 1, 2002; 87(1): 29 - 32. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. M. Main, I. M. Schmidt, and N. E. Skakkebæk A Possible Role for Reproductive Hormones in Newborn Boys: Progressive Hypogonadism without the Postnatal Testosterone Peak J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., December 1, 2000; 85(12): 4905 - 4907. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				H.N. Lim, H. Chen, S. McBride, A.M. Dunning, R.M. Nixon, I.A. Hughes, and J.R. Hawkins Longer polyglutamine tracts in the androgen receptor are associated with moderate to severe undermasculinized genitalia in XY males Hum. Mol. Genet., March 22, 2000; 9(5): 829 - 834. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. Kubini, M. Zachmann, N. Albers, O. Hiort, M. Bettendorf, J. Wölfle, F. Bidlingmaier, and D. Klingmüller Basal Inhibin B and the Testosterone Response to Human Chorionic Gonadotropin Correlate in Prepubertal Boys J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., January 1, 2000; 85(1): 134 - 138. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				K L Ng, S F Ahmed, and I A Hughes Pituitary-gonadal axis in male undermasculinisation Arch. Dis. Child., January 1, 2000; 82(1): 54 - 58. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				J. Singh and D. J. Handelsman Imprinting by Neonatal Sex Steroids on the Structure and Function of the Mature Mouse Prostate Biol Reprod, July 1, 1999; 61(1): 200 - 208. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				S F Ahmed, A Cheng, and I A Hughes Assessment of the gonadotrophin-gonadal axis in androgen insensitivity syndrome Arch. Dis. Child., April 1, 1999; 80(4): 324 - 329. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				A.-M. Andersson, J. Toppari, A.-M. Haavisto, J. H. Petersen, T. Simell, O. Simell, and N. E. Skakkebæk Longitudinal Reproductive Hormone Profiles in Infants: Peak of Inhibin B Levels in Infant Boys Exceeds Levels in Adult Men J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., February 1, 1998; 83(2): 675 - 681. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				N. Uli, D. Chin, R. David, N. Geneiser, K. Roche, F. Marino, E. Shapiro, K. Prasad, and S. Oberfield Menstrual Bleeding in a Female Infant with Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia: Altered Maturation of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Ovarian Axis J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., October 1, 1997; 82(10): 3298 - 3302. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. M. Lee, P. K. Donahoe, B. L. Silverman, T. Hasegawa, Y. Hasegawa, M. L. Gustafson, Y. Chang, and D. T. MacLaughlin Measurements of Serum Mullerian Inhibiting Substance in the Evaluation of Children with Nonpalpable Gonads N. Engl. J. Med., May 22, 1997; 336(21): 1480 - 1486. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]