Sex Differences in the Catecholamine Output of Children

Urinary excretion of catecholamines was studied in 240 normal, healthy children 12 years of age during a passive condition (film exposure) and an active condition (arithmetic test) at school. No sex differences in catecholamine excretion were found during the passive condition, whereas, during the work period, boys excreted significantly more adrenaline and noradrealine than girls. A comparison is made between catecholamine excretion levels of the children and adult subjects examined in other studies.