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[Role of leptin in development of peripubertal boys]
Chang-Hao Sun1, Ying Li, Xu Wang
1Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150001, China.
Insights
Leptin levels in boys fluctuate during puberty, correlating with insulin and negatively with growth hormone and testosterone. While leptin influences pubertal development, it doesn't solely trigger or maintain it.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Human Physiology
Context:
- Puberty involves complex hormonal changes crucial for development.
- Leptin, a key metabolic hormone, is increasingly recognized for its role beyond energy homeostasis.
- Understanding leptin's interplay with other hormones during male puberty is essential for a comprehensive view of adolescent development.
Purpose:
- To investigate the role of leptin in male pubertal development.
- To examine the relationship between leptin and key pubertal hormones: insulin (INS), growth hormone (GH), estradiol (E2), and testosterone (T).
Summary:
- Serum leptin levels were measured in obese, normal, and malnourished boys aged 7-17.
- Leptin levels peaked in early puberty and decreased, with a late-pubertal increase.
- Leptin positively correlated with insulin and negatively with GH and testosterone, but not E2.
Impact:
- Leptin appears to promote, but not solely drive, pubertal progression in boys.
- A late-pubertal rise in leptin may inhibit GH secretion, signaling the end of puberty.
- Findings contribute to understanding hormonal regulation during male adolescence and potential implications for growth disorders.
Objectives:
To study the role of leptin in the development boys during their puberty and its relationship with insulin (INS), growth hormone (GH), estradiol (E2) and testosterone (T).
Methods:
One hundred and fifty boys with simple obese aged 7 to 17 years, 150 normal healthy boys and 150 boys with malnutrition matched for age (+/- 3 months) and height (+/- 2 cm) were selected. Serum levels of leptin, INS, GH, E2 and T were measured for them.
Results:
Serum level of leptin in obese group was significantly higher than that in normal group, and that in normal group was significantly higher than that in malnourished group. In the all three groups, serum level of leptin increased with age first until peak value, then began to decrease, with peak value of 6.96 microg/L at ages of 10-11 y in obese group, 10.25 microg/L at ages of 11-12 y in normal group and 5.08 microg/L at ages of 11-12 y in malnourished group. Serum level of leptin increased steadily from Tanner stages G1 to G2, then began to decrease steadily in G2 to G4. Serum level of leptin increased again in stage G5. Serum level of INS in boys increased steadily with age from 7 to 17 years old. Serum levels of GH, T and E2 in boys began to increase since 10-11 years old. Serum level of leptin positively correlated with serum level of INS and negatively correlated with serum levels of GH and T, but not correlated with serum level of E2.
Conclusions:
Leptin may promote pubertal development of boys, but not the determinant factor in triggering and maintaining their pubertal development. Re-increase in level of leptin during stage G5 could inhibit secretion of GH, and signalize the end of puberty in boys.
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