Pinealectomy advances the time of development of steroid feedback on luteinizing hormone release in immature female rats

The effect of pinealectomy (Px) on the development of steroid positive feedback on luteinizing hormone (LH) release was examined in female rats subjected to surgery at 10 days of age. Estradiol-progesterone injection decreased serum LH in sham Px or intact controls younger than 20 days, while a significant LH release was found at day 22; Px rats showed a steroid-induced LH depression only at day 16, a positive feedback being detectable at day 20, 2 days earlier than in sham Px or intact rats. Daily injections of 10–50 μg melatonin to intact rats disrupted the LH negative feedback response at day 20, and diminished steroid-induced LH release at day 24.     

Regional differences of the sleep electroencephalogram in adolescents

The sleep electroencephalogram (EEG) was recorded from anterior (Fz/Cz) and posterior (Pz/Oz) bipolar derivations in two developmental groups: 20 pre- or early pubertal (Tanner 1/2, mean age 11.4 +/- 1.1 years, 11 boys) and 20 late pubertal or mature adolescents (Tanner 4/5, 14.1 +/- 1.3 years, 8 boys). A sleep-state independent reduction of EEG power over almost the entire frequency range was present in Tanner 4/5 compared with Tanner 1/2 adolescents. Spectral characteristics of the sleep EEG yielded state- and frequency-dependent regional differences that were similar in both developmental groups. Anterior predominance of power in delta and sigma ranges occurred in non-rapid eye movement sleep. Rapid eye movement sleep EEG power was greater in low delta, alpha, and sigma ranges for the posterior derivation and in theta and beta ranges for the anterior derivation. The decay rate of the sleep homeostatic process--reflected by the exponential decline of the 2-Hz EEG power band across the sleep episode--did not differ for derivations or groups. These results indicate that the nocturnal dynamics of sleep homeostasis are independent of derivation and remain stable across puberty.     

Testicular microlithiasis: an unreported feature of McCune-Albright syndrome in males

OBJECTIVE: To ascertain the incidence of testicular microlithiasis (TM) in boys with McCune-Albright syndrome (MAS). STUDY DESIGN: Study population consisted of 8 boys with MAS whose medical records were reviewed with emphasis on their past genitourinary histories. All of the boys underwent a clinical and ultrasonographic (US) scanning of the scrotal and inguinal regions. US results in boys with MAS were compared with those obtained in two control populations consisting of 20 healthy subjects and 12 boys with idiopathic and untreated central precocious puberty (CPP). RESULTS: Clinical examination revealed urological abnormalities in no patients, whereas US showed a typical picture of TM in 5 of 8 boys. TM was observed in none of the subjects belonging to control populations (v=15.2 and 11.3, respectively; P <.001). CONCLUSIONS: In a series of 8 boys with MAS we demonstrated a high prevalence (62%) of TM that was associated with neither malignant nor nonmalignant conditions. This finding is unlikely to be only occasional, considering the very low prevalence of TM reported until now in healthy children and young adults and in our results in control populations. TM may be another marker for MAS.     

Galactorrhea-associated granulosa cell tumor in a child

Granulosa cell tumor of the ovary is a rare form of ovarian cancer in children. An 11-year-old girl was admitted with complaints of galactorrhea and abdominal mass. Abdomino-pelvic ultrasound and computed tomography revealed an ovarian tumor. Her prolactine and estradiol levels were increased but luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone were decreased. An exploratory laparotomy revealed a giant solid mass, which was completely removed and determined as juvenile granulosa cell tumor. The clinical, hormonal, and radiological findings and the therapy of galactorrhea associated with granulosa cell tumor in a child are discussed. To our knowledge, this is first time it has been described in childhood.     

Sex differences in FSH-regulatory peptides in pubertal age boys and girls and effects of sex steroid treatment

BACKGROUND: FSH concentrations are higher in girls than in boys before puberty. We hypothesized that steroid-mediated changes in FSH-regulatory proteins underlie the sex differences in FSH secretion and pubertal timing. METHODS: FSH-regulatory proteins, LH, FSH and sex steroids were measured in five boys, 10 girls, and five girls with Turner syndrome before and during sex steroid treatment (girls, 0.05 mg/day estradiol; boys, 5 mg/day testosterone) for up to 4 weeks. Blood was obtained every 15 min from 20.00 to 08.00 h before and during sex steroid treatment. RESULTS: The mean FSH concentration was higher in girls than in boys (P = 0.0044). Activin-A concentrations were greater (P < 0.0001) and inhibin-B concentrations lower (P < 0.0001) in girls compared with boys. Steroid treatment (i) suppressed LH/FSH concentrations in all subjects; (ii) increased the mean activin-A concentration in all but the Turner girls (P = 0.001); and (iii) decreased inhibin-B concentrations in boys (P = 0.005) but not in girls. Total follistatin and follistatin 288 concentrations did not differ by sex. CONCLUSIONS: Sex steroids regulate circulating activin-A and inhibin-B concentrations in children. The lower inhibin-B and higher activin-A concentrations may explain the higher FSH and earlier onset of puberty in girls.     

Quantitative calcaneal ultrasound parameters and bone mineral density at final height in girls treated with depot gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonist for central precocious puberty or idiopathic short stature

To evaluate the effect of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist treatment on bone quality at final height, we studied girls with central precocious puberty (CPP) and with idiopathic short stature (ISS). A total of 25 Caucasian girls were included: group A ( n =14) with idiopathic CPP (mean age at start 7.4 years) and group B ( n =11) with ISS (mean age at start 11.7 years). Treatment duration was 3.8 and 1.7 years respectively. The quantitative ultrasound parameters (QUS) broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA) and speed of sound (SOS) were measured at the calcaneus (UBIS 3000 device). Lumbar spine bone mineral density (BMD; L2–L4) was measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) (Hologic QDR1000). Measurements were performed at final height and expressed as Z-scores corrected for bone age. Mean Z-scores of QUS parameters, areal BMD and volumetric BMD (BMDvol) were above –1 in both groups (group A: BUA Z-score –0.21, SOS Z-score –0.29, BMD Z-score 0.02, BMDvol Z-score 0.05, group B: BUA Z-score –0.93, SOS Z-score –0.40, BMD Z-score –0.86, BMDvol Z-score –0.68), although mean Z-scores of BUA and areal BMD in group B were significantly different from zero ( P =0.03 and P =0.02 respectively). Mean Z-score BMDvol was not significantly different from zero ( P =0.05), we found no significant difference between the groups for BMDvol ( P =0.13). Conclusion:although quantitative ultrasound parameters parameters and bone mineral density were normal in girls with central precocious puberty at final height after gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonist treatment, mean Z-score for broadband ultrasound attenuation and areal bone mineral density were significantly different from zero and mean Z-score for volumetric bone mineral density was (just) not significantly different from zero in idiopathic short stature girls with normal puberty treated with gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonists. Therefore we cannot say that this treatment is safe in these girls with regard to bone health.Abbreviations BMD bone mineral density - BMDvol volumetric bone mineral density - BMI body mass index - BUA broadband ultrasound attenuation - CPP central precocious puberty - DXA dual X-ray absorptiometry - GnRH gonadotrophin-releasing hormone - ISS idiopathic short stature - QUS quantitative ultrasound - SDS standard deviation score - SOS speed of sound     

The influence of puberty and ethnicity on awareness and internalization of the thin ideal

OBJECTIVE: This study examined the effects of puberty and ethnicity on awareness and internalization of the thin ideal. METHOD: Fourth and fifth-grade girls (N = 67) and their parents (N = 67) completed questionnaires assessing demographic variables, eating pathology, pubertal development, and awareness and internalization of the thin ideal. RESULTS: Girls in pre/early puberty did not differ significantly from girls in mid/late puberty on awareness of the thin ideal; however, more developed girls had significantly greater internalization of the thin ideal. Caucasian and non-Caucasian girls also did not differ on awareness of the thin ideal, but non-Caucasian girls reported greater internalization. No significant interactions between race and puberty existed on the dependent variables. DISCUSSION: Factors specifically related to puberty seem to be key to girls' development of disordered eating attitudes. The effect of puberty on increased internalization of the thin ideal cannot be explained by increased age or awareness of the thin ideal.     

Platelet monoamine oxidase in healthy 9- and 15-years old children: the effect of gender, smoking and puberty

1. The effect of gender, smoking and pubertal development on platelet monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity was described in a randomly selected, large sample of 9- and 15-years old healthy children.

2. Platelet MAO activity was measured in 1129 children by a radioenzymatic method with β-phenylethylamine as the substrate. Smoking habits were reported in an anonymous questionnaire. Pubertal status was assessed visually using Tanner's stages.

3. Boys, younger children and smokers had significantly lower platelet MAO activity than girls, older children and non-smokers, respectively. Girls in Tanner's stage V for breast and public hair development had significantly lower MAO than girls in stage IV.

4. Differences in gender, age, pubertal status and smoking habits must be taken into account if the relationship between platelet MAO activity, personality and psychiatric disorders is studied in children.