The Adrenarche: Prolactin, Gonadotropins, Adrenal Androgens, and Cortisol

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Abstract
In order to study the adrenarche, serum concentrations of PRL [prolactin], FSH [follicle stimulating hormone], LH [luteinizing hormone], androstenedione, 11.beta.-hydroxyandrostenedione (11.beta.A), dehydroepiandrosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate and cortisol were quantified in 106 children from 2-12 yr of age and in adults, PRL and 11.beta.A have not previously been reported in a large group of prepubertal children with respect to age. PRL, cortisol and 11.beta.A showed no significant changes during these years. Androstenedione was present in relatively high concentrations at the youngest age and increased gradually, whereas FSH and LH rose peripubertally at ages 11 and 12. In contrast, dehydroepiandrosterone and its sulfate showed a progressive increase with age in boys and a 2 phase increase in girls, with the greatest relative change in the dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate concentration occurring between ages 2 and 5 in girls. Significant changes in adrenal androgen secretion occur well before the gonadal changes of puberty in both sexes. The .DELTA.4 steroids A and 11.beta.A were present in relatively high concentrations in the youngest children, whereas the .DELTA.5 steroids dehydroepiandrosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate tended to increase rapidly in concentration with increasing age beginning with relatively low values in the youngest children. The .DELTA.4/.DELTA.5 steroid concentration ratio decreased progressively with age. This indicates early prominence of 3.beta.-ol-isomerase dehydrogenase activity. The data suggest PRL has little or no role in the human in control of adrenarche.