Abstract
To investigate mechanisms of neuroendocrine regulation of gonado-tropin secretion during puberty, we studied 3 early pubertal boys with delayed adolescence (range: CA 13 7/12 - 17 2/12; BA 11 6/12 - 13 6/12 yrs)by: 1) antagonism of endogenous opiates (naloxone); and 2) a- adrenergic stimulation (clonidine) . From 2000h to 0800h on two consecutive study days, blood was obtained every 20 min for plasma LH (mIU/ml)while patients A and B received i.v. infusions of saline or naloxone (1 mg/ m2/hr). On Day 3, testosterone (T) enanthate (A=75 mg/m2, B=50 mg/m2) was administered i.m. The protocol was repeated 1 week later when x̄ plasma T was 9.9 and 8.8 ng/ml in A & B, respectively. Results are shown below (A/B, x̄ ± SE).
In patient C, plasma gonadotropins were measured q20 min for 36h before and 24h after clonidine, 0.15 mg p.o. A significant increase (p<.01) in mean LH was first apparent 5h after clonidine and persisted for at least 19h (LH x̄ ± SE: control day/night 1.7 ± 0.1/5.1 ± 0.2; clonidine day/night 3.3 ± 0.2/6.3 ± 0. 3). These studies suggest the following: 1) endogenous opiates do not influence nocturnal LH secretion in early pubertal boys before or after short term exposure to adult male range concentrations of T and 2) increasing α-adrenergic tone may be important for augmentation of LH secretion during puberty.
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Sauder, S., Kelch, R., Hopwood, N. et al. EFFECTS OF NALOXONE AND CLONIDINE ON GONADOTROPIN SECRETION IN EARLY PUBERTAL BOYS. Pediatr Res 18 (Suppl 4), 176 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198404001-00501
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198404001-00501
