Elevated ²-Human Chorionic Gonadotropin and Testosterone in Cord Serum of Male Infants of Diabetic Mothers*

Abstract

Leydig cell hyperplasia is a common histological finding in male infants of diabetic mothers. The functional correlates of this histological finding were investigated by measuring beta hCG, testosterone, androstenedione, dihydrotestosterone, and progesterone in mixed cord serum of male and female infants of diabetic mothers (n = 40) and normal mothers (n = 40) at term. Male and female infants of diabetic mothers had significantly higher cord serum beta hCG levels than male and female controls. Male infants of diabetic mothers had significantly higher cord serum testosterone concentrations than male controls, female controls, and female infants of diabetic mothers. Cord serum testosterone concentrations were similar in female infants of diabetic mothers and female controls. In the male infants of diabetic mothers, there was a significant positive correlation between beta hCG and testosterone (r = 0.64; P less than 0.01). There was no significant correlation between beta hCG and testosterone in the male controls (r = -0.15; P = NS). There was no significant difference in cord serum dihydrotestosterone in any group tested. Cord serum progesterone was significantly higher in the males than in the females. Cord serum androstenedione was lower in the infants of diabetic mothers than in the controls. This study suggests that the Leydig cell hyperplasia found in male infants of diabetic mothers is due, in part, to elevated concentrations of hCG and is accompanied by elevated testosterone concentrations in the fetal compartment.

Serum hCG assay: A method for detection of contamination of fetal blood samples

“…true baseline fetal serum hCG concentrations. Our findings confirm that small but significant amounts of serum hCG are present in fetal blood (above 50 IU/I in 13 out of 44 cases), as previously suggested by neonatal cord blood studies (Furuhashi et al, 1982;Barbieri et al, 1985). Therefore, the detection of hCG in an aspirated blood sample is not evidence per se of maternal contamination.…”

Effect of Gender on Perinatal Outcome in Pregnancies Complicated by Diabetes

“…After birth the infants have less glucose substrate and high levels of insu lin, which result in hypoglycemia. Barbieri et al [8] have reported a positive correlation between cord hCG and tes tosterone levels. These authors found that male infants of diabetic mothers have significantly higher cord serum tes tosterone levels than male controls, female controls, and female infants of diabetic mothers.…”

“…A possible explanation for the higher incidence of hypoglycemia in male infants is the effect of higher levels of hCG present in fetuses of diabetic mothers when com pared to fetuses of nondiabetic mothers [8], This may be the result of larger placentas in diabetic pregnancies. High levels of hCG in male fetuses are believed to cause Leydig cell hyperplasia, which results in increased testosterone concentrations [8,9].…”

“…High levels of hCG in male fetuses are believed to cause Leydig cell hyperplasia, which results in increased testosterone concentrations [8,9]. The elevated testosterone concen tration may produce insulin resistance [10] and may result in hyperplasia of the pancreas B islet cells, which then release increased amounts of insulin.…”

Hormones of the Placenta: hCG and hPL

“…The levels are elevated in primigravid patients with proteinuric preeclampsia (Said et al, 1984). Amniotic fluid and cord blood levels of hCG are elevated in diabetic mothers (Barbieri et al, 1985(Barbieri et al, , 1986.…”