No abstract

No abstract

SUMMARY Abnormalities of the proportions of peripheral blood lymphocyte subpopulations and of immunoglobulin serum levels were found in twenty patients affected by Turner's syndrome. A slight but significantly decreased percentage of circulating T and B cells, an increased percentage of null cells and a decreased in vitro, responsiveness of lymphocytes to phytohaemagglutinin, concanavalin A and pokeweed mitogen were found in Turner's syndrome patients. IgG serum level was found significantly decreased in comparison with age‐matched fifty‐seven normal males and fifty‐seven normal females and IgM serum level was intermediate between female and male values; Turner's syndrome patients with monosomy had an IgM serum concentration very close to male values. The derangement of T and B lymphocyte subpopulations, probably related to the aneuploidy, does not seem to be a severe one but it could account for the immunoglobulin abnormalities and for the association of Turner's syndrome with immunological disorders such as autoimmune diseases. The role of X chromosome on IgM serum level is discussed.

No abstract

In 22 normal boys, 33 unilateral and 14 bilateral cryptorchids, a gonadal function test (2000 IU of HCG im each a day for three days and assays of plasma testosterone and plasma oestradiol-17\g=b\ before and after the HCG administration) as well as an LH-RH test were carried out. In 60% of the cases, both normal and cryptorchid boys, plasma oestradiol-17\g=b\(both in basal conditions and after stimulus) were found to be less than the sensitivity (5 pg/ml) of the method. While the plasma testosterone was similar under basal conditions in the three groups of children, after HCG it was significantly lower than the mean value of the control group only in the bilateral cryptorchids. The testosterone levels, both under basal conditions and after stimulus, are correlated to bone age only in the normal boys and in the unilateral cryptorchids. There were no significant differences among the various groups for either LH and FSH both under basal conditions and after LH-RH. The LH curve area during the LH-RH test is in correlation with bone age only in the normal children.The scanty data regarding the endocrine function (Rivarola et al. 1970; Zach¬ mann 1972;Sizonenko et al. 1973;Canlorbe 1974;Cacciari et al. 1974a) as well as the histological pattern of the gonads (Mancini et al. 1965;Bramble et al. 1974;Canlorbe 1974), and the pituitary reserve of gonadotrophins (Job et al.