Development of external genitalia during mini-puberty: is it related to somatic growth or reproductive hormones?


Gacemer H. A., Tosun B. G., Helvacioglu D., Yaman A., Abali Z. Y., HALİLOĞLU B., ...Daha Fazla

European Journal of Pediatrics, cilt.183, sa.3, ss.1325-1332, 2024 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 183 Sayı: 3
  • Basım Tarihi: 2024
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1007/s00431-023-05393-3
  • Dergi Adı: European Journal of Pediatrics
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, BIOSIS, CAB Abstracts, CINAHL, EMBASE
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.1325-1332
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: External genitalia, Hypothalamo-pituitary–gonadal axis, Mini-puberty, Reproductive hormone, Somatic growth
  • Marmara Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Although hypothalamo-pituitary–gonadal axis is active during mini-puberty, its relationship with somatic growth and the role on the development of external genitalia has not been fully elucidated. We aimed to evaluate the effects of somatic growth and reproductive hormones on the development of external genitalia during mini-puberty. Anthropometric data, pubertal assesment, serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), androstenedione (A4), sex-hormone binding globulin (SHBG), estradiol (E2) and inhibin-B, testosterone (T), and anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH) of healthy infants aged 1–4 months were evaluated. Free sex hormone index was calculated as T/SHBG for boys and E2/SHBG for girls. The mean age of 148 (74 female) infants included in the study was 2.31 ± 0.76 months. Tanner stage 2–3 sex steroid and gonadotropin levels were observed. A statistically significant difference was found between the weight, height, BMI, weight gain and serum FSH, LH, and A4 measurements of girls and boys (p < 0.05). Penile length was associated with weight (r = 0.24, p = 0.03), height (r = 0.25, p = 0.02), and AMH (r = 0.3, p = 0.01), but not with testosterone (p = 0.56 respectively). A negative correlation was found between weight and serum LH (r = − 0.26, p = 0.2) and T/SHBG levels in males (r = − 0.38, p = 0.015 respectively). Weight-SDS was negatively correlated with testosterone in males (r = − 0.25, p = 0.02). Testicular size and breast stage did not correlate with any of the hormonal and anthropometric parameters. Conclusions: External genitalia in males during mini-puberty is related more to somatic growth rather than reproductive hormones. Similar to pubertal developmental stages, both total and free testosterone are negatively associated with higher weight during mini-puberty. (Table presented.)