Scarce information is available on serum FSH and LH levels, determined by highly sensitive assays. We evaluate gonadotropic age profiles in children of both sexes using an enzimoinmunoassay, in presence of two monoclonal antibodies (MEIA). 124 females (F) were studied: 55 prepubertal (Group G1) with a chronological age(CA) of 13.4±7.03 months, 51 prepubertal (G2), CA 4.66±1.93 years, and 18 pubertal F.8 of them in breast stage 2 (G3), CA 10.3±0.69 y and 10 in breast stage 3 (G4), CA 12.3± 1.71y;l85 males (M)were studied: 81 prepubertal(G1),CA 12.1±6.68 m, 75 prepubertal (G2), CA 4.81±2.07 y, and 29 pubertal M (G3) genital stage 2 CA 10.8±1.76 y. In both F and M,Gl was subdivided in 3 subG according to age: 0-3 m, 4-12 m and 12-24m. In F, serum FSH in G1 was higher than in G2 or G3 (5.12 ± 2.63, 2.76±1.9 and 2.89±2.0 U/L respectively, p<0.05 by ANOVA) and similar to G4 (5.88±2.91). Serum LH similar in G1, G2 and G3 but higher in G4 (0.19±0.23, 0.23±0.88, 0.71 ± 1.87 and 4.04±3.19 U/L, p<0.05). In M, serum FSH was similar in G1 and G2, but higher in 63(1.15±0.78, 1.10 ±0.82 and 2.26±0.96 U/L, p<0.05) while serum LH in G1 was higher than in G2 but similar to G3 (0.78 ± 1.33, 0.13±0.32 and 0.72±0.99 U/L, p<0.05). However, in the different M sub G1 LH was high between 0-3m and 4-12m(2.39±1.35 and 1.25±1.65)but similar to G2 between 13-24m (0.154±0.17). In F, serum FSH was higher than in M in G1 and G2 and serum LH was lower in G1. It is concluded that serum FSH in the first 2 years of life in F and in the first one in M are similar to pubertal values. Sex differences can be due to different sensitivity of the gonadostat to the inhibitory effects of gonadal steroids and peptides or to differential secretion of the hormones.
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