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Increase in urinary growth hormone excretion in puberty
D A Price1, G M Addison, E D Herbert
1Department of Child Health, Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, Pendlebury.
Archives of Disease in Childhood
|November 1, 1990
Summary
Overnight urinary growth hormone excretion significantly increases during puberty, peaking in girls at 13 and boys at 15. Post-puberty, this rate remains elevated, doubling the prepubertal levels.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Human Growth and Development
Background:
- Growth hormone (GH) plays a crucial role in childhood development and pubertal maturation.
- Understanding the dynamics of GH excretion is vital for assessing normal growth patterns.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify the changes in overnight urinary growth hormone (hGHu) excretion rates during and after puberty.
Main Methods:
- Collection and analysis of overnight urine samples to measure hGHu excretion rates.
- Comparison of hGHu levels across different developmental stages: prepubertal, pubertal, and postpubertal.
Main Results:
- Overnight urinary growth hormone excretion (hGHu) increases 3-4 fold during puberty.
- hGHu excretion peaks at age 13 in girls and 15 in boys.
- Postpubertal mean hGHu rates are double the prepubertal rates.
Conclusions:
- Puberty is associated with a substantial and sustained increase in overnight urinary growth hormone excretion.
- These findings provide reference ranges for hGHu during critical developmental periods.