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Circadian rhythm in gonadotropin secretion in children with constitutional stature delay
Insights
Children with delayed puberty show hormone increases during sleep, similar to healthy peers. This synchronization of gonadotropin secretion with sleep is linked to bone age, not just chronological age.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Reproductive Endocrinology
- Sleep Medicine
Background:
- Constitutional delay of stature and sexual maturation is a common condition in children.
- Gonadotropin secretion, regulated by the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, exhibits pulsatile patterns.
- Nocturnal surge of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) is observed in healthy pubertal children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the temporal patterns of LH and FSH secretion in children with constitutional delay of growth and puberty.
- To determine if the nocturnal surge of gonadotropins is preserved in this cohort.
- To explore the relationship between hormone secretion patterns, chronological age, and bone age.
Main Methods:
- Blood samples were collected every 4 hours over a 24-hour period in six prepubertal subjects.
- Plasma levels of LH and FSH were measured using immunoassays.
- Bone age was assessed using the Greulich and Pyle method.
Main Results:
- Subjects exhibited fluctuating plasma concentrations of LH and FSH throughout the 24-hour period.
- A significant increase in hormone levels was observed during sleep, consistent with healthy pubertal children.
- The timing of this nocturnal surge was related to bone age rather than chronological age.
Conclusions:
- Children with constitutional delay of growth and puberty demonstrate a preserved nocturnal surge of gonadotropins.
- The synchronization of augmented gonadotropin secretion with sleep matures later in chronological age but is strongly associated with bone age.
- These findings suggest that bone maturation is a key factor in the development of normal pubertal hormone secretion patterns.
Abstract:
Plasma levels of luteinizing and follicle-stimulating hormones were measured for 24 hours in six subjects affected by constitutional stature delay associated with sexual maturation delay. The children in pubertal stage exhibited fluctuating plasma concentrations of these hormones which significantly increased during sleep, as in healthy pubertal subjects. Thus in this type of delayed puberty, the synchronization of augmented gonadotropin secretion with sleep develops later in chronologic age but it is strongly related to bone age.