help button home button Endocrine Society JCEM
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
This Article
Right arrow Submit a related Letter to the Editor
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Request Copyright Permission
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Forest, M. G.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Forest, M. G.

Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, Vol 47, 931-937, Copyright © 1978 by Endocrine Society

ARTICLES

Age-related response of plasma testosterone, delta 4-androstenedione, and cortisol to adrenocorticotropin in infants, children, and adults

MG Forest

The response of plasma testosterone (T), delta 4-androstenedione, and cortisol (F) to the administration of synthetic Zn beta 1-24 ACTH (0.5 mg/m2 im every 12 h for 3 days) was ascertained in 20 infants, 35 prepubertal children, 4 early pubertal boys, and 15 adults. At all ages and in both sexes, a significant rise in delta 4-androstenedione and F was observed (P less than 0.00001), whereas the response of T showed a sex difference: T levels increased in females (P less than 0.001) at all ages in response to ACTH, while they decreased (P less than 0.01) in males at periods of active testicular secretion (early infancy, puberty, and adulthood). In prepubertal boys, in the absence of significant Leydig cell activity, T levels increased after ACTH, as they did in girls. The post-ACTH values of T, expressed as percent-ages of the control levels, were significantly lower (P less than 0.01) in infants (3.17 +/- 16.7%) than in pubertal boys (59.5 +/- 14.6%) or adult men (57.9 +/- 7.7%). F levels were significantly higher after ACTH stimulation at 1-4 months of age (253 +/- 129 micrograms/dl) than at any later age studied (64 +/- 17 micrograms/dl). It would seem, therefore, that the suppressive effect of ACTh on testicular secretion might be glucocorticoid mediated and its magnitude might be related to circulating levels of F.


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab.Home page
C. Battaglia, G. Regnani, F. Mancini, L. Iughetti, S. Bernasconi, A. Volpe, C. Flamigni, and S. Venturoli
Isolated Premature Pubarche: Ultrasonographic and Color Doppler Analysis--A Longitudinal Study
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., July 1, 2002; 87(7): 3148 - 3154.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab.Home page
M. R. Palmert, D. L. Hayden, M. J. Mansfield, J. F. Crigler Jr., W. F. Crowley Jr., D. W. Chandler, and P. A. Boepple
The Longitudinal Study of Adrenal Maturation during Gonadal Suppression: Evidence That Adrenarche Is a Gradual Process
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., September 1, 2001; 86(9): 4536 - 4542.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Endocr. Rev.Home page
L. Ibáñez, J. DiMartino-Nardi, N. Potau, and P. Saenger
Premature Adrenarche--Normal Variant or Forerunner of Adult Disease?
Endocr. Rev., December 1, 2000; 21(6): 671 - 696.
[Abstract] [Full Text]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Endocrinology Endocrine Reviews J. Clin. End. & Metab.
Molecular Endocrinology Recent Prog. Horm. Res. All Endocrine Journals
Copyright © 1978 by The Endocrine Society