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Dynamic Changes of Reproductive Hormones in Male Minipuberty : Temporal Dissociation of Leydig and Sertoli Cell Activity

Busch, Alexander Siegfried ; Ljubicic, Marie Lindhardt ; Upners, Emmie N. ; Fischer, Margit Bistrup ; Raket, Lars Lau LU orcid ; Frederiksen, Hanne ; Albrethsen, Jakob ; Johannsen, Trine Holm ; Hagen, Casper P. and Juul, Anders (2022) In Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism 107(6). p.1560-1568
Abstract

Context: The male hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis is transiently active during the first months of life with surging serum concentrations of reproductive hormones. This period, termed minipuberty, appears to be essential for priming testicular function. Despite the central role for male reproductive function, longitudinal data on HPG axis activation in infancy is sparse. Objective: To explore the dynamics of HPG hormone activity in healthy male infants, to assess the association of HPG axis activity and testicular volume, and to establish reference curves for serum levels of reproductive hormones. Design: Prospective, longitudinal birth cohort (the COPENHAGEN Minipuberty Study, 2016-2018, 1-year follow-up). Setting:... (More)

Context: The male hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis is transiently active during the first months of life with surging serum concentrations of reproductive hormones. This period, termed minipuberty, appears to be essential for priming testicular function. Despite the central role for male reproductive function, longitudinal data on HPG axis activation in infancy is sparse. Objective: To explore the dynamics of HPG hormone activity in healthy male infants, to assess the association of HPG axis activity and testicular volume, and to establish reference curves for serum levels of reproductive hormones. Design: Prospective, longitudinal birth cohort (the COPENHAGEN Minipuberty Study, 2016-2018, 1-year follow-up). Setting: Population-based. Patients or Other Participants: Healthy, male, term, singleton newborns were followed from birth on with repeated clinical examinations including blood sampling during a 1-year follow-up. A total of 128 boys contributed to this study, while 119 participated in the postnatal follow-up. Main Outcome Measures: Serum reproductive hormone concentrations and testicular volume. Results: Reproductive hormone concentrations showed marked dynamics during the first 6 months of age. Gonadotropins, total testosterone, and insulin-like factor 3 peaked at around 1 month of age. Inhibin B, anti-Müllerian hormone, and testicular volume peaked at around 4 to 5 months. Correlations largely recapitulated typical HPG axis pathways but also differed significantly from adult men. Conclusions: We demonstrate a temporal dissociation of Leydig and Sertoli cell activity during male minipuberty and provide reference curves for reproductive hormones.

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author
; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, Leydig, male, minipuberty, reproduction, Sertoli
in
Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism
volume
107
issue
6
pages
9 pages
publisher
Oxford University Press
external identifiers
  • pmid:35225342
  • scopus:85130767485
ISSN
0021-972X
DOI
10.1210/clinem/dgac115
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
Publisher Copyright: © 2022 The Author(s) 2022.
id
bb198ede-191e-4c4b-8c31-da72bb8d733d
date added to LUP
2022-08-19 14:15:05
date last changed
2025-03-08 16:49:19
@article{bb198ede-191e-4c4b-8c31-da72bb8d733d,
  abstract     = {{<p>Context: The male hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis is transiently active during the first months of life with surging serum concentrations of reproductive hormones. This period, termed minipuberty, appears to be essential for priming testicular function. Despite the central role for male reproductive function, longitudinal data on HPG axis activation in infancy is sparse. Objective: To explore the dynamics of HPG hormone activity in healthy male infants, to assess the association of HPG axis activity and testicular volume, and to establish reference curves for serum levels of reproductive hormones. Design: Prospective, longitudinal birth cohort (the COPENHAGEN Minipuberty Study, 2016-2018, 1-year follow-up). Setting: Population-based. Patients or Other Participants: Healthy, male, term, singleton newborns were followed from birth on with repeated clinical examinations including blood sampling during a 1-year follow-up. A total of 128 boys contributed to this study, while 119 participated in the postnatal follow-up. Main Outcome Measures: Serum reproductive hormone concentrations and testicular volume. Results: Reproductive hormone concentrations showed marked dynamics during the first 6 months of age. Gonadotropins, total testosterone, and insulin-like factor 3 peaked at around 1 month of age. Inhibin B, anti-Müllerian hormone, and testicular volume peaked at around 4 to 5 months. Correlations largely recapitulated typical HPG axis pathways but also differed significantly from adult men. Conclusions: We demonstrate a temporal dissociation of Leydig and Sertoli cell activity during male minipuberty and provide reference curves for reproductive hormones. </p>}},
  author       = {{Busch, Alexander Siegfried and Ljubicic, Marie Lindhardt and Upners, Emmie N. and Fischer, Margit Bistrup and Raket, Lars Lau and Frederiksen, Hanne and Albrethsen, Jakob and Johannsen, Trine Holm and Hagen, Casper P. and Juul, Anders}},
  issn         = {{0021-972X}},
  keywords     = {{hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis; Leydig; male; minipuberty; reproduction; Sertoli}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{06}},
  number       = {{6}},
  pages        = {{1560--1568}},
  publisher    = {{Oxford University Press}},
  series       = {{Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism}},
  title        = {{Dynamic Changes of Reproductive Hormones in Male Minipuberty : Temporal Dissociation of Leydig and Sertoli Cell Activity}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1210/clinem/dgac115}},
  doi          = {{10.1210/clinem/dgac115}},
  volume       = {{107}},
  year         = {{2022}},
}