THE EXCRETION OF GONADOTROPHIC HORMONE BY PREPUBERAL AND ADOLESCENT GIRLS

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Abstract
Assays were made of the daily, urinary excretion of gonadotrophic hormone by 12 [female][female] between the ages of 4 1/2 and 14 yrs., over periods of 30 consecutive days. On 4 of the subjects, repeat detns. were made after the lapse of a yr. The urine of the youngest [female][female] contained either no hormone, or very small amts. only. In the preadolescent girls, hormone was excreted more frequently, and in larger amts. With increasing quantities, fluctuations in day by day amts. became evident, but these did not appear to be systematic or cyclic. The pattern of gonadotrophin output appeared to be more closely related to developmental status, as shown especially by approaching menarche, than to the chronological age of the subjects. The overall x)attern of activity was on a lower level in [female][female] than that recorded for the fully developed adult menstrual cycle. It is suggested that the type of activity here recorded is to be correlated with a pre-ovulatory phase of sexual development.