Effect of Obesity on the Hypothalamo‐pituitary‐gonadal Function in Childhood

Abstract

In 22 normal and 35 obese boys a gonadal function test (2000 IU of hCG i.m. daily for three days and assays of plasma testosterone before and after the hCG administration) was carried out. All the "short normal" children and 31 obese subjects underwent the LH-RH test (50 microng i.v.). While basal testosterone was similar in the two groups of children, after hCG testosterone was significantly (p less than 0.001) lower in the obese boys, In the normal children a significant positive correlation between bone age and basal and after hCG testosterone was demonstrated; this correlation was not found in the obese boys. The pituitary reserve of gonadotrophins did not show significant differences between the two groups of children. Finally a significant positive correlation (p less than 0.01) between the LH curve area during the LH-RH test and bone age was found only in the normal boys.

Leptin and Androgens in Male Obesity: Evidence for Leptin Contribution to Reduced Androgen Levels*

“…These results confirm previous data observed in obese children (50) who exhibited a significantly lower increase in hCG-stimulated T than lean controls, even in the presence of a normal pituitary reserve of LH and FSH after the LHRH test. Testicular responsiveness to a maximal hCG dose (49) seemed reduced considering the absolute peak value, single day increase, or the AUC obtained during the 5 days after the stimulus.…”

Hypophyso-Gonadal Function in the Cryptorchid Child: Differences Between Unilateral and Bilateral Cryptorchids

“…during the pre-pubertal stage of development (Win¬ ter et al 1972;Cacciari et al 1974a;Canlorbe 1974).…”

“…The antiserum we used was obtained from rabbits pre-treated with an anti-tubercular vaccine as previously described (Cacciari et al 1974a). The antiserum was used at a dilution of 1:30 000.…”

“…Plasma oestradiol-17/J was assayed according to the radioimmunoassay method of Emment et al (1972) using an antiserum at a dilution of 1:30 000 as previously described (Cacciari et al 1974a). The sensitivity of the method was 5 pg/ml.…”

“…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 …”