Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Signs of Puberty

Signs of Puberty

Puberty is a critical phase, typically beginning between the ages of 8 and 13 in girls and 9 and 14 in boys, though timing can vary based on genetics, environmental factors, and overall health. This period is characterized by the development of secondary sexual characteristics and the attainment of reproductive potential. Endocrine changes underpin puberty, with hormonal surges of Luteinizing Hormone (LH) and Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH) instigated by Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH)...

Testosterone: Functions and Regulation

Testosterone: Functions and Regulation

The intricate hormonal interplay essential for male reproductive health begins with the release of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) by the hypothalamus. This hormone prompts the pituitary gland to secrete follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). LH targets the Leydig cells in the testes, stimulating them to produce and release testosterone. In concert with testosterone, FSH acts on the Sertoli cells within the seminiferous tubules to facilitate the release of...

Major Hormones and Their Functions

Major Hormones and Their Functions

Hormones, the biochemical messengers produced by endocrine glands, are pivotal in regulating bodily functions and maintaining homeostasis. Each hormone's balance is crucial; imbalances can lead to significant physiological disruptions. Major hormones include oxytocin, cortisol, epinephrine, estrogen, testosterone, thyroxine, growth hormone, insulin, and glucagon.
Oxytocin, produced in the hypothalamus and released by the pituitary gland, plays a role in social bonding, childbirth, and...

Menopause

Menopause

Menopause, a natural biological process marking the end of a woman's fertility, typically occurs between the fifth and sixth decade of life. This phase is characterized by the exhaustion of the ovarian follicle pool, leading to less responsive ovaries despite the high levels of Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) and Luteinizing Hormone (LH). The consequential decrease in estrogen production results in symptoms like hot flashes, heavy sweating, headaches, hair loss, muscle pains, vaginal...

Adrenal Gland Disorders

Adrenal Gland Disorders

Adrenal gland disorders manifest when the production of adrenal hormones deviates from the norm, resulting in either excessive or insufficient concentrations.
Adrenal insufficiency, characterized by insufficient cortisol and aldosterone production, leads to conditions like Addison's disease. This disorder, affecting the adrenal cortex, exhibits symptoms such as skin bronzing, dehydration, low blood pressure, fatigue, and weight loss. Congenital adrenal hyperplasia, a genetic ailment causing...

Disorders of the Male Reproductive System

Disorders of the Male Reproductive System

Men's health issues are increasingly recognized as significant, with several conditions posing common threats. Among these, testicular cancer is especially prevalent in younger men, particularly those aged 20 to 35 years. The disease often manifests as a painless mass in the testicles, sometimes accompanied by a sensation of heaviness or a dull ache.
Prostate disorders are another major concern. These conditions can impair urinary flow due to the prostate's location around the urethra....

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Pubertal development and hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis are altered in male mice lacking Mecp2.

Journal of neuroendocrinology·2026

Same author

Clinical practice recommendations for the diagnosis and management of nephropathic cystinosis.

Nature reviews. Nephrology·2026

Same author

Sex Differences in Pediatric and Adolescent Endocrinology: What Are the Origins?

Hormone research in paediatrics·2026

Same author

Markers and regulators of osteoblast and osteoclast activity in children with X-linked hypophosphatemia treated with burosumab.

Journal of bone and mineral research : the official journal of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research·2026

Same author

Anthropometric characteristics at birth and growth outcome in patients with X-linked hypophosphatemia treated with oral phosphate and active vitamin D.

Pediatric nephrology (Berlin, Germany)·2026

Same author

Efficacy of 24-weekly vs 12-weekly decapeptyl SR treatment in central precocious puberty: a UK multicentre retrospective cohort study.

The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism·2026

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 1, 2025

Determination of Reproductive Competence by Confirming Pubertal Onset and Performing a Fertility Assay in Mice and Rats

Determination of Reproductive Competence by Confirming Pubertal Onset and Performing a Fertility Assay in Mice and Rats

Published on: October 13, 2018

Mini-Puberty, Physiological and Disordered: Consequences, and Potential for Therapeutic Replacement.

Julia Rohayem^1,2, Emma C Alexander³, Sabine Heger⁴

¹Department of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetology, Children's Hospital of Eastern Switzerland, 9006 St. Gallen, Switzerland.

Endocrine Reviews

|March 4, 2024

Summary

Congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (CHH) disrupts the crucial "mini-puberty" phase in infant males, impacting future fertility. Early diagnosis and gonadotropin therapy can improve reproductive outcomes and physical development.

Keywords:

Kallmann syndrome congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism cryptorchidism gonadotropins hypogonadism infancy micropenis mini-puberty puberty

More Related Videos

Establishment of Rat Models Mimicking Gender-affirming Hormone Therapies

Establishment of Rat Models Mimicking Gender-affirming Hormone Therapies

Published on: January 10, 2025

A Hyperandrogenic Mouse Model to Study Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

A Hyperandrogenic Mouse Model to Study Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Published on: October 2, 2018

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 1, 2025

Determination of Reproductive Competence by Confirming Pubertal Onset and Performing a Fertility Assay in Mice and Rats

Determination of Reproductive Competence by Confirming Pubertal Onset and Performing a Fertility Assay in Mice and Rats

Published on: October 13, 2018

Establishment of Rat Models Mimicking Gender-affirming Hormone Therapies

Establishment of Rat Models Mimicking Gender-affirming Hormone Therapies

Published on: January 10, 2025

A Hyperandrogenic Mouse Model to Study Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

A Hyperandrogenic Mouse Model to Study Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Published on: October 2, 2018

Area of Science:

Reproductive Endocrinology
Pediatric Endocrinology
Genetics

Background:

The hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis exhibits three distinct physiological waves: fetal, mini-puberty, and puberty.
Congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (CHH) is a genetic disorder marked by deficient gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) secretion or action, absent in all three HPG axis waves.
Severe CHH in males can lead to micropenis, cryptorchidism, and testicular immaturity due to absent fetal and mini-puberty HPG axis activation, impacting future fertility.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the physiology of mini-puberty and the consequences of central HPG axis disorders.
To outline a diagnostic approach for early identification of CHH in infants.
To examine current therapeutic strategies for replacing mini-puberty in male infants with CHH.

Main Methods:

Review of physiological mini-puberty and central HPG axis disorders.
Discussion of diagnostic approaches for CHH.
Analysis of current treatment options for CHH, including gonadotropin replacement therapy.

Main Results:

Absence of fetal HPG axis activation occurs in approximately 50% of male newborns with micropenis and/or cryptorchidism.
Lack of mini-puberty exacerbates testicular immaturity, characterized by low Sertoli cell numbers, detrimentally affecting future fertility.
Small case series suggest gonadotropin replacement mimicking mini-puberty may improve testis descent, normalize testis and penile sizes, and address reproductive and nonreproductive implications.

Conclusions:

CHH diagnosis is often missed in infants, with no established therapeutic consensus.
Early identification and intervention, including gonadotropin replacement to mimic mini-puberty, show promise for improving reproductive outcomes in affected males.
Therapeutic replacement regimens for disordered mini-puberty may offer benefits beyond physical development, addressing broader reproductive health concerns.