Inhibin B, Follicle Stimulating Hormone,
Luteinizing Hormone and Testosterone during Childhood and
Puberty in Males: Changes in Serum Concentrations in Relation to
Age and Stage of Puberty
M. CHADA1, R. PRŮŠA1, J. BRONSKÝ1,
K. KOTAŠKA1, K. ŠÍDLOVÁ1,2, M. PECHOVÁ1,
L. LISÁ2
1Department of Clinical Biochemistry and
Pathobiochemistry, and 2First Pediatric
Department, Second Medical Faculty, Charles University,
Faculty Hospital Motol, Prague, Czech Republic
Received
February 26, 2002
Accepted April 5, 2002
Summary
Inhibin B is a gonadal dimeric polypeptide hormone that
regulates synthesis and secretion of follicle stimulating
hormone (FSH) in a negative feedback loop. The aim of the
present study was to determine changes in serum inhibin B,
gonadotropins and testosterone concentrations during childhood
and puberty in males. We studied the relationship between
circulating inhibin B, gonadotropins and testosterone in serum
of healthy boys during the first two years of life and then in
pubertal development. Using a recently developed two-side
enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), inhibin B levels were
measured in the serum of 78 healthy boys divided into eleven age
groups from birth to the end of pubertal development. In
addition, serum levels of gonadotropins and testosterone were
measured. Serum inhibin B, gonadotropins and testosterone
increased during the first months of postnatal life. A peak in
serum inhibin B and gonadotropins concentrations was observed
around 3-4 months of age. There was a significant positive
correlation between serum inhibin B and gonadotropins and
testosterone levels during the first 2 years of life. After this
early increase, serum inhibin B, gonadotropins and testosterone
levels decreased significantly and remained low until puberty
followed by an increase beginning with the onset of puberty.
Serum levels of inhibin B reached a peak at stage G3 of puberty.
Around midpuberty, inhibin B lost its positive correlation with
luteinizing hormone (LH) and testosterone from early puberty,
and developed a strong negative correlation with FSH, which
persisted into adulthood. We conclude that inhibin B plays a key
role in the regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal
hormonal axis during male childhood and pubertal development.
Inhibin B is a direct marker of the presence and function of
Sertoli cells and appears to reflect testicular function in
boys.
Key
words
Inhibin B • Male • Childhood • Puberty
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MUDr. Martin Chada, Department of Clinical Biochemistry and
Pathobiochemistry, Second Medical Faculty, Charles University,
Faculty Hospital Motol, V Úvalu 84, 150 06 Prague 5, Czech
Republic, e-mail:
martinchada@hotmail.com
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