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PubMed1999

[Testosterone treatment of delayed puberty: a longitudinal study in relation to a control group].

OBJECTIVE: Delayed puberty is a very common clinical situation that affects a great number of adolescents. We analyzed the effects that testosterone therapy produces in this situation, including the start of puberty and, therefore, lessening the psychological effects that this delay causes. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We carried out a longitudinal study, in which we followed the growth and maturation of 32 boys from the age of 14 to 19 years. The sample was divided into a control group (n = 17) and a treatment group (n = 15). The treatment group received 50 mg/month of testosterone enantate depot during 6 months. None of the subjects, neither in the control group nor in the treatment group, had started puberty or if so, they had started it in an insufficient way for their age. RESULTS: The boys treated with testosterone developed a greater growth velocity compared to the control group during the first year of observation (9.07 +/- 1.11 cm/year vs 6.9 +/- 1.76, respectively, p < 0.0001). They had a higher increment in the muscular area of the arm (p < 0.005) and pubertal stage G changes occurred more quickly. On the other hand, the growth of the testicular volume was similar in both groups. At 19 years of age, no significant difference between the groups was observed in any of the clinical parameters studied. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment wit testosterone at the dose used promotes a significant response that leads to the start of puberty, but without stopping the maturation of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis that is produced in normal puberty, allowing a normal testicular evolution. The treatment does not show any long-term effects. It is, therefore, an effective treatment of delayed puberty.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

[Growth and development in untreated girls with slowly progressing idiopathic central or borderline-onset puberty].

OBJECTIVE: To analyse growth and development of girls with slowly progressive idiopathic precocious or early puberty. DESIGN: Long-term open clinical study. SETTING: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague. METHODS: In 20 untreated girls with slowly progressive puberty starting at 6-9 years neurogenic aetiology was excluded. During follow-up period 4.7 +/- 2.2 (2-8.5) years (mean +/- SD; range), sexual development (Tanner criteria), age at menarche, menstrual cycle and auxological parameters were evaluated. RESULTS: 13 girls reached menarche at 11.1 +/- 0.9 years (3.7 +/- 1.1 years after the onset of puberty), earlier than in their mothers (12.9 +/- 1.1 years) and Czech standards (P < 0.05). Menstrual cycle 28 (24-29) days was regular in all 6 girls with gynaecological age > 2 years. In one girl microprolactinoma was diagnosed, therapy with bromocryptine started at the age 14.7 years (3.5 years after menarche). At the onset of follow-up, bone age (TW20) advancement was 1.8 +/- 1.4 years above the chronologic age. Initial prediction of final height (graphic method) was 162.3 +/- 5.5 cm vs final prediction 163.7 +/- 5.1 cm. Final height 162.2 +/- 5.7 cm achieved 7 girls vs target height 163.6 +/- 5.2 cm (NS). CONCLUSION: In untreated girls, menarche occurred later after the first signs of puberty than in normal population, menstrual cycle was regular. Height potential was preserved, final height corresponded with their target height. Not all girls with early and slowly progressive puberty should be treated. Therapy is necessary in organic aetiology, rapid progressive precocious puberty and impaired growth prognosis.

Body Constitution↗
PubMed2006

Understanding of puberty and related health problems among female adolescents in Karachi, Pakistan.

OBJECTIVES: To understand the level of knowledge, a community based study conducted with the objectives as follows: To estimate the proportion of common facilities available and accessible and frequency of utilizing of it. To estimate the proportion of female adolescent utilizing the availability of facilities. To assess the level of understanding related to puberty and related health problems among female adolescents. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the understanding and level of knowledge related to puberty and related health problems among female adolescents of Karachi, Pakistan. Data was collected from 150 female adolescents between 10-19 years of age. The pre-coded questionnaire was used to collect the data which was double entered and analyzed in SPSS. RESULTS: Sixty six percent (66%) of the participants were aware of the names of reproductive organs. Majority of the participants received information related to sexuality from their mothers. Sixty seven percent (67%) of the participants did not know about self breast examination. Cable and internet were cited as a major source of puberty and sexual health related information. CONCLUSION: The study concluded that there is a lack of knowledge related to puberty and related health problems among female adolescents. This study recommends that the adolescents should be provided with health education before and during their puberty period to make them confident in dealing with their body changes during puberty effectively.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Leptin changes in Taiwanese girls with central precocious puberty before and during the GnRH agonist treatment.

To examine the relationship between leptin serum levels and pubertal development in girls with progressive central precocious puberty. We longitudinally investigated the leptin levels of 37 girls with central precocious puberty before and during treatment with the gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist depot (leuprorelin acetate). Leptin and other hormone levels were determined by radioimmunoassay. Girls with central precocious puberty before treatment showed no significant difference in leptin levels as compared to the puberty stage at diagnosis of disease. In addition, the changes in leptin concentrations of girls with central precocious puberty during treatment were not statistically significant. In the Spearman correlation analysis of leptin levels with body mass index, bone age, chronological age, clinical pubertal signs along with luteinizing, follicle-stimulating, and estradiol hormone levels, we found that body mass index, weight, and chronological age were significantly correlated with leptin levels (p < 0.05) at both 3 and 6 months of leuprorelin treatment. Leptin levels increased with body mass index; however, this trend did not reach statistical significance at all follow-up time points. These data demonstrated that treatment with depot gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist does not influence leptin concentrations. Serum leptin levels in patients with central precocious puberty are associated with body weight and body mass index.

Body Mass Index↗
PubMed2006

Precocious puberty.

The term precocious puberty encompasses a group of heterogeneous conditions that range from variants of normal to slowly progressive and rapidly progressive maturation of both sexes. It is defined as the appearance of secondary sex characteristics before the age of 8 in girls and 9 in boys. The clinician who is evaluating a child with precocious puberty should be aware of the normal events of puberty, the ages at which pubertal milestones are achieved and the tempo of pubertal progression. The mechanisms involved in the onset and progression of normal puberty are briefly discussed in this article. The diverse etiology of precocious puberty, the diagnostic evaluation of the patient including clinical, laboratory and radiological investigation as well as problems associated with precocious puberty and indications for treatment and treatment modalities are further discussed in the article.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Physical changes of puberty.

Normal pubertal development is characterized by major physical alterations: sexual maturation, changes in body composition, and rapid skeletal growth. Breast development is the first manifestation of puberty in approximately 85% of girls; the normal age for initial breast development is 8 to 13 years. Menarche generally occurs within 2 years of the onset of breast development, with a mean age in American girls of 12.8 years. In boys, the first manifestation of puberty is testicular enlargement; the normal age for initial signs of puberty is 9 to 14 years in males. Pubic hair in boys generally appears 18 to 24 months after the onset of testicular growth and is often conceived as the initial marker of sexual maturation by male adolescents. Skeletal growth is one of the most striking characteristics of puberty. Linear-growth velocity begins to increase in males at genital stage III and pubic-hair stage II, but peak height velocity is not attained until age 14 years in boys and 12 years in girls. Lean body mass, which primarily reflects muscle mass, begins to increase during early puberty in both boys and girls. Fat mass increases during the late stages of puberty in girls. Sex differences in the adolescent growth spurt produce the characteristics sexual dimorphism in shape and proportions seen in young adults.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Methods for correcting retardation of sexual development in the irregular puberty syndrome in boys].

A total of 46 boys aged 11 to 13 with the abnormal puberty syndrome were examined. The authors assessed various methods of correction of delayed puberty by the time course of anthropometric and genitometric indices and blood testosterone, LH and FSH levels 1 year after the initiation of treatment, at the age of 14 to 16 and 17 to 19. The ejaculate composition of 12 adolescents over 17 was examined. In 3/4 of the adolescents the indices of physical development and pubescence, blood testosterone and gonadotropic hormone levels achieved physiological values by the age of 14-16, but in 1/4 of the patients delayed puberty with lowered FSH and testosterone levels and raised LH in the blood was noted. The normalization of puberty was noted at the age of 17 to 19 with normal spermatogenesis. The necessity and methods of therapeutic correction of delayed puberty in boys and adolescents with the abnormal puberty syndrome were discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Precocious puberty.

The past decade has seen tremendous advances in both the diagnosis and treatment options for children with precocious puberty. Although the precise cause of CPP is still not known, long-acting GnRH analogues provide a safe and effective form of therapy. Treatment slows the progression of secondary sexual characteristics and rates of linear growth and bone maturation. Although the final verdict on how beneficial GnRH analogue therapy is in preserving the final adult height in children with precocious puberty is still not in, achieved heights are generally greater than pretreatment predicted heights. However, treatment may not be appropriate for all children with GDPP. Some children progress through puberty slowly and may not have significant compromise in final height. Furthermore, some children who come from tall families who may be subject to the same deterioration from target height as children who come from short families may not require therapy because their expected final heights may still fall within an acceptable range even if they are shorter than their siblings. Therapy offers the greatest advantage for those children in whom the onset of puberty is at a very early age, those who demonstrate rapidly accelerating bone age, or those with lower genetic height potential. In the past 3 years, the molecular mechanisms by which precocious puberty develops in children with MAS and FMPP have been elucidated. The molecular defects characterized explain the clinical manifestations. Future challenges will include the development of an effective, targeted form of therapy for gonadotropin-independent forms of precocious puberty.

Child↗
PubMed1993

[Precocious puberty revealing Bourneville tuberous sclerosis].

BACKGROUND: Benign tumors are seen in tuberous sclerosis. They are found in many organs, and the precocious puberty due to hypothalamic hamartoma and tuberous sclerosis has been reported. However, precocious puberty exceptionally reveals the tuberous sclerosis. CASE REPORT: A 2 month-old boy was admitted because of the fortuitous discovery of polycystic renal disease. Precocious puberty developed at 13 months with enlargement of the penis and testes, appearance of pubic hair, acne and deepening of the voice. Linear growth was recently accelerated and the bone maturation was advanced. Plasma testosterone was elevated (460 ng/100 ml) and LH-RH injection induced rapid rises in plasma LH (2.6 to 28 mUl/ml) and FSH (2 to 8 mUl/ml). Brain imaging techniques (CT scan and NMR) showed a hypothalamic hamartoma and periventricular calcified lesions. Examination with the Wood lamp identified two white leaf macules in the dorsal area. Administration of an analogue of LH-RH effectively reduced the manifestations of precocious puberty. CONCLUSION: Tuberous sclerosis is exceptionally revealed by precocious puberty. The association of polycystic disease and precocious puberty has never before been reported in tuberous sclerosis.

Hamartoma↗
PubMed1981

[Puberty].

Puberty commences in girls 1.5-2 years earlier than in boys. Whereas the production of sexual hormone in the female increases gradually, testosterone secretion in the male rises steeply within two years. In connection with this boys are suffering more often from emotional disturbances than girls during puberty. During the last 150 years the onset of puberty has considerably advanced. In the middle of the last century, menarche occurred at age 17; today, however, at age 12.5. This secular acceleration is caused by improved nutrition, mainly with proteins. Presupposition for the earlier onset of puberty is an earlier arriving at the developmental stage (height, weight, bone maturation) which formerly was characteristic for prepubertal children of 10/11 years. Also the physiologic variants, i.e., the so-called early normal puberty and constitutional delay of growth and adolescence, base on prepubertal differences in growth velocity and growth hormone secretion. In contrast to this, the pathologic variants of sexual development, i.e., true sexual precocity and pubertas tarda s.s., are caused by various pathologic processes located in one of the three areas: hypothalamus, pituitary, or gonads.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Serum levels of mullerian inhibiting substance in boys throughout puberty and in the first two years of life.

Serum levels of Mullerian inhibiting substance (MIS) have been measured in 91 boys throughout normal pubertal development. MIS levels fell sharply after pubertal stage 1 and were mostly undetectable at pubertal stage 6. The relationship between MIS concentration and pubertal stage was similar when compared with age. Seven patients with precocious puberty and 12 with delayed puberty were also investigated and found to have MIS levels consistent with their degree of pubertal development. Precocious puberty was associated with MIS levels that were abnormally low for age, while delayed puberty resulted in persistence of high MIS levels. Serum MIS levels were also measured in 29 boys less than 2 yr of age undergoing minor surgery. High levels were found throughout this time period, which is consistent with previous reports. MIS levels appear to be inversely related to levels of gonadotropins, steroids, and inhibin, which fall in the first 2 yr of life and rise throughout puberty.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Nutritional influences on growth and onset of puberty in Boran and Boran x Friesian bulls in Ethiopia.

Twenty-seven Boran and 37 Boran x Friesian crossbred bulls were weaned at 6 months of age and randomly assigned to either a dry season supplementary feed containing 16% crude protein or control groups. Data were collected on body weight, wither height and scrotal circumference (SC) at monthly intervals. Bulls were also challenged with 100 mug of gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) at 2-month intervals and plasma testosterone responses were determined. Semen was collected at monthly intervals by electroejaculation. Post weaning average daily weight gain was significantly (P<0.001) higher in supplemented than in control groups (302 vs 208 g/day). Scrotal circumference growth rates were also significantly (P<0.001) higher in supplemented than in control bulls (0.38 vs 0.31 mm/day). Bulls fed supplemented diets were younger (430 vs 473 days; P<0.001) and heavier (217 vs 203 kg; P<0.05) and had better semen quality at puberty than the control bulls. There was a trend for larger SC at puberty in supplemented than in control bulls (P=0.06). There were no significant differences in wither height or in testosterone response to GnRH at puberty between supplemented and control bulls. Body and SC growth rates to puberty for Boran and Boran x Friesian bulls were 189 and 321 g/day (P<0.001) and 0.27 and 0.42 mm/day (P<0.01), respectively. Boran bulls were older (513 vs 406 days; P<0.01) and lighter (201 vs 215 kg; P<0.05), and had smaller SC (23.9 vs 26 cm; P<0.01) at puberty than Boran x Friesian bulls. Testosterone responses to GnRH increased (P<0.001) with age and were significantly higher (P<0.05) in supplemented and in Boran x Friesian bulls than in control and Boran bulls. Wither height, testosterone response to GnRH and semen quality at puberty did not differ between breeds. Dry season supplementation improved growth rate and enhanced sexual development and maturity in both Boran and Boran x Friesian bulls, and would be a useful management strategy for enhancing fertility in bulls in the tropics.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2004

Puberty in South American Bos indicus (Zebu) cattle.

Puberty in Zebu heifers follows a pattern characterized by a decrease in the steroid feedback mechanism and an increase in LH concentration, which result in the first ovulation followed by a short estrous cycle and the onset of normal cycles thereafter. These events are similar to those observed in Bos taurus cattle but occur at a later age. The late onset of puberty is both genetic and environmental in origin and is reflected by the age at first calving that can be at 40 months of age or older in these animals. Age at puberty in Zebu heifers has been shown to have a high heritability. Consequently, selecting precocious heifers may be an effective means of reducing age at puberty in these animals and this approach is being adopted in commercial practice. Genetic selection is not the sole solution to the problem because environmental improvements are necessary, particularly in terms of improved nutrition. South American Zebu cattle are usually subject to sub-optimum nutritional and management conditions and, hence, exhibit late onset of puberty. Hybrids of Zebu and Bos taurus cattle exhibit heterosis in respect of the age of puberty with earlier onset than expected in crossbred animals. Recently, purebred South American Zebu cattle have been shown to have Bos taurus genes, indicating that there have been previous attempts to improve their productivity using this approach. It was concluded that the age at first calving in South American Zebu cattle can be reduced by exposing well-fed, yearling heifers to bulls and selecting, over several generations, those animals that become pregnant at an early age.

Aging↗
PubMed2003

Plasma LH, FSH, testosterone, and age at puberty in ram lambs actively immunized against an inhibin alpha-subunit peptide.

Active immunization against inhibin has been shown to advance puberty and increase ovulation rate in ewe lambs; but in ram lambs, effects on puberty and sperm production are equivocal. The objective of the present study was to determine whether active immunization against an inhibin alpha-subunit peptide advances the onset of puberty in ram lambs. St. Croix hair sheep ram lambs were assigned to inhibin-immunized (n = 7) and control (n = 8) treatment groups. Lambs in the inhibin-immunized group were immunized against a synthetic peptide-carrier protein conjugate, alpha-(1-25)-human alpha-globulin (halpha-G), and control lambs were immunized against halpha-G. Lambs were immunized at 3, 7, 13, 19, 25, 31, and 37 weeks of age. On the day of immunization a blood sample was collected and lambs were weighed. Another blood sample was collected 1 week following each immunization. At 20 weeks of age additional blood samples were collected at 20 min intervals for 8h. Beginning at 20 weeks of age and at weekly intervals thereafter, scrotal circumference (SC) was measured and semen was collected using electroejaculation. A subsequent ejaculate was collected 1 week following onset of puberty, which was defined as the week of age when an ejaculate first contained > or =50 x 10(6) sperm cells. In control lambs, plasma alpha-(1-25)-antibody (Ab) was nondetectable. In inhibin-immunized lambs, alpha-(1-25)-Ab titer increased from 7 to 25 weeks of age and then plateaued at a level that varied (P<0.001) among animals. Body weight and SC of control and inhibin-immunized lambs were similar at the onset of puberty. At pubertal onset inhibin-immunized lambs were older than control lambs (31.9+/-0.5 vs. 29.5+/-0.7 weeks of age, P<0.05). Plasma FSH concentrations were similar in control and inhibin-immunized lambs from 3 to 38 weeks of age. Plasma LH levels were lower (P<0.01) in inhibin-immunized than control lambs. During the 8-h blood sampling period at 20 weeks of age, LH and testosterone concentrations were lower (P<0.05) in inhibin-immunized than control ram lambs, and the LH pulse frequency was similar in the two groups of animals. The decreased LH secretion is consistent with the immunoneutralization of a putative inhibin alpha-subunit-related peptide that stimulates LH secretion in ram lambs. Present findings show that active immunization against an inhibin alpha-peptide delays rather than advances puberty in ram lambs.

Aging↗
PubMed1997

Serum thyroid hormone concentrations during growth and puberty in Carora dairy heifers of Venezuela.

The aim of this study was to characterize changes in serum concentrations of triiodothyronine (T(3)) and thyroxine (T(4)) in relation to growth and the onset of puberty in Carora heifers, a Venezuelan dairy breed. Heifers aged 7 to 16 months were grouped retrospectively according to puberty status into 4 groups: Pubertal (control group; n = 12) and nonpubertal (n = 8) contemporary (born during the same week) heifers, pubertal (n = 7.) and nonpubertal (n = 7) noncontemporary (born in different months) heifers. A split-plot model with repeated measures over Months 7 to 16 of age was used. Control heifers attained puberty at 290 +/- 5 kg body weight (BW) between 13 and 14 months of age. Significant (P < 0.01) interactions of birth time of year and puberty status were detected in BW and serum concentrations of T(3), but only interaction of birth time of year was found in T(4). A transient but significant (P < 0.05) decrease in T(3) secretion was seen in pubertal contemporary and noncontemporary (101 +/- 4 and 113 +/- 4 ng/d1, respectively) heifers at Month 12 of age, a change which could be critical to the onset of puberty. Significant (P < 0.05) positive correlation was found between BW and T(3). In summary, thyroid hormone secretion changed across the months of growing and around the onset of puberty in Carora heifers.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2000

Seasonal effects on puberty and reproductive characteristics of female Chios sheep and Damascus goats born in autumn or in February.

Ten Chios ewe lambs and 10 Damascus she-kids born in October-November and similar numbers born in February along with eight multiparous females from each species, were used to examine pubertal events and reproductive seasonality. Reproductive activity was monitored by determining serum progesterone concentrations once a week for 12 months. The mean date of onset of ovulation (puberty) in autumn-born Chios females (7 August) was earlier (p<0.05) than in February-born ones (11 September) though the onset of regular cyclicity was not significantly different between the two groups (30 August and 19 September, respectively). The age and live weight at puberty in autumn-born females was higher (p<0.01) than in February-born ones, the respective values being 43.3 weeks and 50.1kg, versus 29.9 weeks and 42.0kg. All animals, irrespective of time of birth, started ovulating after the summer equinox. Multiparous Chios ewes had reproductive cycles covering most time of the year with acyclic periods during spring and summer. In ewe lambs, about half of the animals ceased cycling during the second half of winter and in spring, while the rest continued cycling. The total number of cycles detected over the experimental period was lower (p<0.05) for February-born (n=9.4) compared with autumn-born females (n=13.7) and adult ewes (n=17.1). In Damascus she-kids born in autumn or in February, onset of puberty was at the same time in the following autumn, the respective mean date for the two groups being 1 November and 27 October. For autumn-born animals, age (48.4 weeks) and live weight (53.8kg) at puberty were higher (p<0.01) than for those born in February (37.3 weeks, 42.9kg). Reproductive cycles in adult goats started in the second half of September and continued until the end of March. Most young goats (75%) had their last seasonal cycle in February and the rest in March. The total number of cycles was higher (p<0.01) in adult (n=8.1) than in young goats born either in autumn (n=6.3) or in February (n=5.7). It is concluded that reproductive development and puberty in Chios female sheep are mostly under seasonal influences though age and body weight are also contributing factors. This breed has a long reproductive season with some animals cycling throughout the year. The Damascus female goat is strictly seasonal with distinct periods of reproductive cyclicity and inactivity. Puberty attainment of Damascus females born in autumn or in February is at the same time the following autumn.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1988

Are ambient short-day cues necessary for puberty in a short-day breeder?

Some exposure to long days (LD) is necessary for female sheep to achieve puberty during short days (SD). In this regard, a 5-wk block of long days in lambs otherwise raised in short days will result in puberty at the normal age. In the present study, Suffolk lambs were raised in various artificial photoperiods to assess the role of short days. An increase in circulating progesterone to luteal phase levels was used as the criterion for puberty. Controls exposed to short days except for 5 wk of long days between 17 and 22 wk (SD-LD-SD) began repetitive reproductive cycles at the expected age (34 +/- 0.7 wk, mean +/- SE). When the final block of short days was eliminated and exposure to long days was continued after 22 wk of age (SD-LD-LD), puberty was delayed (41 +/- 0.8 wk of age). Removal of the first block of short days (LD-LD-SD) did not prevent normal puberty, and the initiation of cycles (29 +/- 0.9 wk) occurred earlier than in controls. Lambs in which the pineal gland was denervated at 22 wk so that it was unable to transduce short-day cues after exposure to long days (SD-LD-X) exhibited puberty at an age (33 +/- 1.2 wk) similar to that of controls.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Age Factors↗
PubMed1999

Earlier puberty as a predictor of later onset of schizophrenia in women.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine whether puberty plays a mediating role in onset of schizophrenia. The hypothesis was that there is an inverse relation between age at puberty (menarche) and age at onset in women. METHOD: Competent and consenting individuals with DSM-IV-defined schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder and their mothers underwent a 45-minute interview to ascertain age at first odd behavior, age at first psychotic symptoms, age at first hospitalization, and ages at various indices of puberty. Information about substance use, head injury, perinatal trauma, and first-degree family history of schizophrenia was also obtained. RESULTS: In the women (N = 35), the earlier the age at menarche, the later the ages at both the first psychotic symptoms and the first hospitalization. There was no significant association between puberty and onset in the men (N = 45). Other than gender, none of the examined variables played a role in the interaction of puberty and onset of illness. CONCLUSIONS: In women, early puberty (whether through hormonal or social influence) was associated with later onset of schizophrenia. This effect was not found in men; in fact, the trend was in the opposite direction.

Adolescent↗