Related Experiment Videos
GH, ACTH, LH and FSH behaviour in the first seven days of life
Insights
Neonatal hormone levels, including growth hormone (GH) and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), are significantly elevated in the first week of life. Gonadotropin levels also peak early, with follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) showing sex-specific differences later in the first week.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Neonatal Physiology
- Pediatric Endocrinology
Background:
- Hormonal changes in neonates are critical for development and adaptation.
- Understanding early-life hormone dynamics is essential for identifying potential health issues.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the dynamic changes in key hormones in neonates during the first week of life.
- To compare neonatal hormone levels with those in older children and analyze sex-specific differences.
Main Methods:
- Blood samples were collected from 43 healthy neonates at multiple time points within the first 7 days of life.
- Assays were performed for growth hormone (GH), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), human chorionic gonadotropin-luteinizing hormone (hCG-LH), and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH).
Main Results:
- Plasma GH levels were significantly higher in neonates compared to older children throughout the first week.
- Plasma ACTH peaked at 2 hours and significantly decreased by day 7.
- Plasma hCG-LH peaked at 2 hours in both sexes and decreased progressively; plasma FSH showed higher levels in females from day 5.
Conclusions:
- Neonates exhibit distinct hormonal profiles, with elevated GH, early peaks in ACTH and hCG-LH, and sex-specific FSH patterns.
- These findings provide a reference for normal neonatal endocrine function during the crucial first week of life.
Abstract:
--43 neonates, born vaginally after spontaneous labor between the 38th and the 42nd week of pregnancy, were examined. GH and ACTH levels were assayed in 14 newborn infants. LH and FSH were determined in the remaining 29 patients (16 boys and 13 girls). Samples were collected from all infants for the assay of the above mentioned hormones at the 2nd, 6th, 12th and 24th hour of life, then every day for 7 consecutive days. During the whole first week of life plasma GH gave values that were significantly higher than those found in subjects over four years of age. The highest mean value of plasma ACTH was found at the 2nd hour of life (162.2 +/- 34.1 pg/ml). Then, there is a significant fall in the hormone level beginning with the 12th hour (p less than 0.01). Minimum level was reached on the 7th day. Plasma hCG-LH presents its maximum mean value at the 2nd hour, both in boys and girls (48.5 +/- 16.2 and 33.0 +/- 24.9 mU/ML, respectively). after this, plasma hCG-LH decreases progressively. No significant differences between the two sexes were found. Even though the mean values of plasma FSH do not change significantly during the whole test period, they do demonstrate a sex difference (significantly higher values in the females) from the fifth day afterwards.