TY - JOUR
T1 - Dynamic changes of reproductive hormones in male minipuberty
T2 - Temporal dissociation of Leydig- and Sertoli-cell activity
AU - Busch, Alexander Siegfried
AU - Ljubicic, Marie Lindhardt
AU - Upners, Emmie N
AU - Fischer, Margit Bistrup
AU - Raket, Lars Lau
AU - Frederiksen, Hanne
AU - Albrethsen, Jakob
AU - Johannsen, Trine Holm
AU - Hagen, Casper P
AU - Juul, Anders
N1 - © The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Endocrine Society. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: [email protected].
PY - 2022/5/17
Y1 - 2022/5/17
N2 - CONTEXT: The male hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis is transiently active during the first months of life with surging serum concentrations of reproductive hormones. This period, termed minipuberty, appears to be essential for priming testicular function. Despite the central role for male reproductive function, longitudinal data on HPG axis activation in infancy is sparse.OBJECTIVE: To explore the dynamics of HPG hormone activity in healthy male infants, to assess the association of HPG axis activity and testicular volume, and to establish reference curves for serum levels of reproductive hormones.DESIGN: Prospective, longitudinal birth cohort (the COPENHAGEN Minipuberty Study, 2016-2018, 1-year follow-up).SETTING: Population-based.PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS: Healthy, male, term, singleton newborns were followed from birth on with repeated clinical examinations including blood sampling during a 1-year follow-up. A total of 128 boys contributed to this study, while 119 participated in the postnatal follow-up.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Serum reproductive hormone concentrations and testicular volume.RESULTS: Reproductive hormone concentrations showed marked dynamics during the first 6 months of age. Gonadotropins, total testosterone, and insulin-like factor 3 peaked at around 1 month of age. Inhibin B, anti-Müllerian hormone, and testicular volume peaked at around 4 to 5 months. Correlations largely recapitulated typical HPG axis pathways but also differed significantly from adult men.CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrate a temporal dissociation of Leydig and Sertoli cell activity during male minipuberty and provide reference curves for reproductive hormones.
AB - CONTEXT: The male hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis is transiently active during the first months of life with surging serum concentrations of reproductive hormones. This period, termed minipuberty, appears to be essential for priming testicular function. Despite the central role for male reproductive function, longitudinal data on HPG axis activation in infancy is sparse.OBJECTIVE: To explore the dynamics of HPG hormone activity in healthy male infants, to assess the association of HPG axis activity and testicular volume, and to establish reference curves for serum levels of reproductive hormones.DESIGN: Prospective, longitudinal birth cohort (the COPENHAGEN Minipuberty Study, 2016-2018, 1-year follow-up).SETTING: Population-based.PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS: Healthy, male, term, singleton newborns were followed from birth on with repeated clinical examinations including blood sampling during a 1-year follow-up. A total of 128 boys contributed to this study, while 119 participated in the postnatal follow-up.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Serum reproductive hormone concentrations and testicular volume.RESULTS: Reproductive hormone concentrations showed marked dynamics during the first 6 months of age. Gonadotropins, total testosterone, and insulin-like factor 3 peaked at around 1 month of age. Inhibin B, anti-Müllerian hormone, and testicular volume peaked at around 4 to 5 months. Correlations largely recapitulated typical HPG axis pathways but also differed significantly from adult men.CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrate a temporal dissociation of Leydig and Sertoli cell activity during male minipuberty and provide reference curves for reproductive hormones.
KW - Adult
KW - Follicle Stimulating Hormone
KW - Gonadotropins
KW - Humans
KW - Infant
KW - Infant, Newborn
KW - Male
KW - Prospective Studies
KW - Sertoli Cells
KW - Testis
KW - Testosterone
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85130767485&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1210/clinem/dgac115
DO - 10.1210/clinem/dgac115
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 35225342
SN - 0021-972X
VL - 107
SP - 1560
EP - 1568
JO - The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism
JF - The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism
IS - 6
ER -