[The interaction of growth hormone secretion and gonadal function in adolescents with delayed physical development]

The studies conducted in adolescents with physical underdevelopment allowed a conclusion on reduced anabolic processes particularly growth process at the expense of both STH and sex steroids: T and E2. Studies of sex steroid and gonadotrophic hormone concentrations in blood serum revealed dysfunction of the hypothalamo-hypophyseal-gonadal system in this group of patients. Evaluation of androgen receptor level in protein cytosol fraction from the pubic skin of undersized youths with delayed sexual development demonstrated its significant reduction against the control group that may be explained by incomplete ability for androgen receptor synthesis due to relatively low T-level and its biologically active free fraction and low sensitivity of target tissues to androgens as a result of dissociation between functional activity of STH and T.