Urinary excretion of radioimmunoassayable luteinizing hormone (LH) in normal male children and adults, according to age and stage of sexual development.

Abstract

ABSTRACT Utilizing a radioimmunoassay for LH and acetone precipitates of urine, the 24-hr LH excretion in 91 normal male children and adolescents and 10 normal adults has been correlated with age, stage of sexual development (Tanner), serum LH and FSH concentrations and urinary FSH and 17-KS excretion. Immunologically reactive LH was measured in all urines and progressively increased with age from a mean of 2.3±0.8 IU/24 hr (2nd IRP-HMG) for the 5–8 yr age group to 38.3±13.3 IU for the 17–18 yr age group, and a mean of 31.3±10.3 for adults. Urinary LH increased progressively with the 5 stages of sexual development. A significant correlation existed between urinary and serum LH concentration and 17-KS excretion. In conclusion, 1) LH is excreted in the preadolescent, 2) urinary LH correlates with both the stage of sexual development and the excretion of androgen metabolites, 3) mean LH excretion increased approximately 13 times from childhood to adulthood, whereas FSH excretion increased only 2–3 times, and...