Abstract

In order to study the adrenarche, serum concentrations of PRL, FSH, LH, androstenedione, 11β-hydroxyandrostenedione (11βA), dehydroepiandrosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, and cortisol were quantified in 106 children from 2–12 years of age and in adults. PRL and 11βA have not previously been reported in a large group of prepubertal children with respect to age. PRL, cortisol, and 11βA showed no significant changes during these years. Androstenedione was present in relatively high concentrations at the youngest ages and increased gradually, whereas FSH and LH rose peripubertally at ages 11 and 12. In contrast, dehydroepiandrosterone and its sulfate showed aprogressive increase with age in boys and a 2-phase increase in girls, with the greatest relative change in the dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate concentration occurring between ages 2 and 5 in girls. These data indicate that significant changes in adrenal androgen secretion occur well before the gonadal changes of puberty in both sexes. The Δ4stero...

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