Male patients with an extra sex chromosome or autosome are expected to present primary hypogonadism at puberty owing to meiotic germ-cell failure. Scarce information is available on trisomy 21, a frequent autosomal aneuploidy. Our objective was to assess whether trisomy 21 presents with pubertal-onset, germ-cell specific, primary hypogonadism in males, or whether the hypogonadism is established earlier and affects other testicular cell populations. We assessed the functional status of the pituitary-testicular axis, especially Sertoli cell function, in 117 boys with trisomy 21 (ages: 2months-20year). To compare with an adequate control population, we established reference levels for serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) in 421 normal males, from birth to adulthood, using a recently developed ultrasensitive assay. In trisomy 21, AMH was lower than normal, indicating Sertoli cell dysfunction, from early infancy, independently of the existence of cryptorchidism. The overall prevalence rate of AMH below the 3rd percentile was 64.3% in infants with trisomy 21. Follicle-stimulating hormone was elevated in patients <6months and after pubertal onset. Testosterone was within the normal range, but luteinizing hormone was elevated in most patients <6months and after pubertal onset, indicating a mild Leydig cell dysfunction. We conclude that in trisomy 21, primary hypogonadism involves a combined dysfunction of Sertoli and Leydig cells, which can be observed independently of cryptorchidism soon after birth, thus prompting the search for new hypotheses to explain the pathophysiology of gonadal dysfunction in autosomal trisomy.

Simple childhood obesity is characterized by normal or even accelerated growth in spite of reduced growth hormone (GH) secretion. There are conflicting reports on the effects of obesity upon components of the GH-insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I)-IGF binding proteins (IGFBPs) system. In the present study we aimed to determine GH, IGF-I, IGFBP-3 and IGFBP-2 as well as some of the less explored components of this axis (IGFBP-3 proteolytic activity, IGFBP-3 plasma fragments, and total acid labile subunit [ALS]) in 22 obese and 17 age-matched control children. We also evaluated not only total GH binding protein (GHBP) serum levels but also GHBP bound to GH (complexed) in both groups. Obese and control groups strongly differed in BMI (obese: 4.7 +/- 0.36 vs control: 0.37 +/- 0.25 SDS, p <0.0001). In the obese group, we found lower GH serum levels, but normal serum levels of GH-GHBP complex, IGF-I, IGFBP-3, IGF-I/IGFBP-3 molar ratio, IGFBP-3 proteolytic activity, IGFBP-3 plasma fragments and total ALS. Obese children presented higher total circulating GHBP (6.0 +/- 0.44 vs 2.9 +/- 0.29 nmol/l, p <0.001) and insulin levels (10.5 +/- 1.5 vs 5.1 +/- 0.8 mU/l, p <0.001), while IGFBP-2 (4.6 +/- 0.5 vs 6.6 +/- 0.7%, p <0.05) and the ratio IGFBP-2/IGF-I (0.032 +/- 0.019 vs 0.095 +/- 0.01, p = 0.013) were lower than in controls. BMI and insulin were directly, and IGFBP-2 serum levels inversely, correlated to total GHBP serum levels when multiple regression analysis was performed (r = 0.74, p <0.001). By stepwise regression analysis, insulin (r = -0.37, p <0.05) and BMI (r = -0.52, p <0.01) inversely determined IGFBP-2. In summary, obese children present normal growth in spite of reduced GH secretion, probably because the combination of increased total GHBP and normal GH-GHBP complex serum levels (suggesting increased GH receptor [GHR] number and a normal serum GH reservoir, respectively) allow for the achievement of normal levels of IGF-I, IGFBP-3, IGFBP-3 proteolytic activity, IGFBP-3 plasma fragments and total ALS. Reduced IGFBP-2 serum levels and a lower ratio of IGFBP-2/IGF-I in obese children may suggest an increase of tissue IGF-I bioavailability, thus promoting its action. Normal IGF-I and GH availability may be contributing to maintain normal growth in obese children.

The U-shaped pattern of serum gonadotrophins observed in normal males from birth to puberty was also found in anorchid boys, but with gonadotrophin levels considerably elevated. Serum gonadotrophin levels may normalize in anorchid boys during late childhood only to rise again at puberty. The presence of testicular tissue results in restrain of gonadotrophin secretion in most patients, even if the testes are cryptorchid.