Abstract
Experimental evidence indicates that the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis is operational and sexually dimorphic in the mammalian fetus and newborn. We examined the dynamics of human luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion in five male and three female infants on the day of birth, after 34–41 wk of gestation. The infants were polycythemic, and blood samples were obtained every 20 min for 160 to 360 min during a therapeutic, standardized, isovolumetric, partial exchange transfusion. Serum LH was measured by an immunoradiometric assay that does not cross-react with human chorionic gonadotropin. The serum profiles of LH presented a striking sex dimorphism with elevated LH levels in male compared with female newborns. Deconvolution analysis of all male LH profiles was consistent with a high-frequency, pulsatile secretory pattern. Testosterone, measured in a pooled serum sample of each infant, was 10-fold higher in male than in female newborns. These results document pulsatile and sexually dimorphic secretion of LH in the human infant as early as the first day of postnatal life. It is possible that the augmented LH secretion in the male newborn participates in the neonatal rise of the serum testosterone concentration.
Similar content being viewed by others
Article PDF
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Zegher, F., Devlieger, H. & Veldhuis, J. Pulsatile and Sexually Dimorphic Secretion of Luteinizing Hormone in the Human Infant on the Day of Birth. Pediatr Res 32, 605–607 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199211000-00025
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199211000-00025
This article is cited by
-
Minipuberty in born small for gestational age infants: A case control prospective pilot study
Endocrine (2022)
-
Unravelling the role of epigenetics in reproductive adaptations to early-life environment
Nature Reviews Endocrinology (2020)
-
Control of puberty onset and fertility by gonadotropin-releasing hormone neurons
Nature Reviews Endocrinology (2016)
-
Investigation of the fatty acid transporter-encoding genes SLC27A3 and SLC27A4 in autism
Scientific Reports (2015)
-
Perinatal testosterone exposure and autistic-like traits in the general population: a longitudinal pregnancy-cohort study
Journal of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (2012)