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[Serum gonadotropin concentrations in preterm infants and sex difference (author's transl)]
Insights
Neonatal serum gonadotropin levels, including follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH), vary by sex and gestational age. Female infants generally exhibit higher levels, particularly preterm females, with distinct patterns post-birth.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Neonatal Physiology
- Reproductive Medicine
Context:
- Gonadotropin secretion undergoes significant changes during the perinatal period.
- Understanding these hormonal dynamics is crucial for assessing infant development and health.
- Previous research has indicated sex-based differences in neonatal hormone levels, but detailed patterns require further elucidation.
Purpose:
- To quantify and characterize serum concentrations of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) in a cohort of preterm and term infants.
- To investigate the influence of gestational age and postnatal day on these gonadotropin levels.
- To identify potential sex-specific differences in FSH and LH profiles during the neonatal period.
Summary:
- Radioimmunoassay measurements of FSH and LH were performed on cord and peripheral sera from 130 and 217 infants, respectively (28-42 weeks gestation, 5-75 days postnatal).
- Cord FSH and LH levels decreased with advancing gestation. Postnatal FSH showed distinct patterns: rapid decline in males, a rise and gradual fall in term males and females, with more pronounced elevation in preterm females.
- Postnatal LH levels mirrored FSH patterns after an initial rapid decline. Overall, neonatal serum gonadotropins were higher in females, except for LH in term infants where males had higher levels.
Impact:
- Provides normative data for neonatal FSH and LH levels, aiding in the clinical interpretation of hormonal assessments in infants.
- Highlights significant sex and gestational age-dependent variations in gonadotropin profiles, offering insights into early reproductive axis maturation.
- Contributes to a better understanding of potential endocrine disturbances in preterm and term neonates, informing future research and clinical practice.
Abstract:
We measured FSH and LH concentrations in 130 cord sera and 217 peripheral sera obtained from infants of 28-42 weeks in gestation, aged 5-75 days after birth, by radioimmunoassay. Cord FSH and LH levels were 3.9-13.6 mIU/ml and 43.3-88.5 mIU/ml respectively, and decreased with advancing gestation. Although FSH levels in 28-31 weeks were higher in female than in male, another sex difference was not found. Postnatal FSH levels in male preterm infants decreased within 10 day, thereafter continued low levels (3.7-5.6 mIU/ml). However, in male term infants and female infants, FSH levels increased with peak levels between 11-30 days after birth, and then decreased gradually. The elevation of FSH levels in female was more remarked and prolonged in preterm infants than in term infants. Postnatal LH levels in both male and female decreased rapidly after birth, and then had similar pattern of FSH levels. Serum gonadotropin levels during the neonatal period were higher in female than in male, except for LH in term infants (male greater than female).