This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a related Letter to the Editor Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Copyright Permission Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Bay, K. Articles by Toppari, J. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Bay, K. Articles by Toppari, J. Related Collections Neuroendocrinology and Pituitary Pediatric Endocrinology Metabolism

Insulin-Like Factor 3 Levels in Cord Blood and Serum from Children: Effects of Age, Postnatal Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Gonadal Axis Activation, and Cryptorchidism

University Department of Growth and Reproduction (K.B., K.M.M., N.E.S., A.-M.A.), GR 5064, Rigshospitalet, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark; Departments of Physiology and Paediatrics (H.E.V., J.T.), University of Turku, FI-20520 Turku, Finland; Department of Andrology (S.H.), University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf, D-20249 Hamburg, Germany; and School of Molecular and Biomedical Sciences (R.I.), University of Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Katrine Bay, University Department of Growth and Reproduction, Rigshospitalet, GR 5064, Blegdamsvej 9, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark. E-mail: katrine.bay{at}rh.regionh.dk.

Context: The Leydig cell hormone insulin-like factor 3 (INSL3) is important for testicular descent. Currently INSL3 levels in cord blood, in serum throughout childhood, and in relation to congenital cryptorchidism are unknown.

Objective: The objective of the study was to characterize INSL3 levels in cord blood during the postnatal activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis and in later childhood in normal boys and girls and cryptorchid boys.

Design and Participants: Serum from 267 3-month-old boys of a prospective study with standardized cryptorchidism classification was analyzed for INSL3 (of these, 99 also had cord blood samples). Testicular position was known in 151 controls and 54 transiently cryptorchid and 62 persistently cryptorchid subjects. Eight infant girls, 26 boys (4.1–10.1 yr), and 13 girls (3.7–8.7 yr) were also included.

Outcome Measure: INSL3, age, testicular position, LH, and testosterone were measured.

Results: INSL3 levels were significantly higher (P < 0.001) in cord blood and 3-month-old boys as compared with older prepubertal boys. At 3 months of age, INSL3 correlated significantly with LH in healthy boys. Cord blood INSL3 was significantly reduced in persistently cryptorchid boys (P = 0.001), and 3-month-old persistently cryptorchid boys had a significantly increased LH to INSL3 ratio (P = 0.014). INSL3 was unmeasurable in girls at all ages.

Conclusions: In boys, early postnatal INSL3 is markedly higher as compared with later childhood, presumably because it is stimulated by the transient postnatal LH peak. INSL3 was unmeasurable in girls at all ages. Reduced cord blood INSL3 and an increased LH to INSL3 ratio at 3 months of age in persistently cryptorchid boys suggest impaired Leydig cell function in cryptorchid boys already in the perinatal period.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				R. Ivell and R. Anand-Ivell Biology of insulin-like factor 3 in human reproduction Hum. Reprod. Update, July 1, 2009; 15(4): 463 - 476. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				I. A Hughes and C. L Acerini Factors controlling testis descent Eur. J. Endocrinol., December 1, 2008; 159(suppl_1): S75 - S82. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Ferlin, D. Zuccarello, B. Zuccarello, M. R. Chirico, G. F. Zanon, and C. Foresta Genetic Alterations Associated With Cryptorchidism JAMA, November 19, 2008; 300(19): 2271 - 2276. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. Bay, A. S. Cohen, F. S. Jorgensen, C. Jorgensen, A. M. Lind, N. E. Skakkebaek, and A.-M. Andersson Insulin-Like Factor 3 Levels in Second-Trimester Amniotic Fluid J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., October 1, 2008; 93(10): 4048 - 4051. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Foresta, D. Zuccarello, A. Garolla, and A. Ferlin Role of Hormones, Genes, and Environment in Human Cryptorchidism Endocr. Rev., August 1, 2008; 29(5): 560 - 580. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. Anand-Ivell, R. Ivell, D. Driscoll, and J. Manson Insulin-like factor 3 levels in amniotic fluid of human male fetuses Hum. Reprod., May 1, 2008; 23(5): 1180 - 1186. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]