Adrenocortical Function in Puberty: Serum ACTH, Cortisol, and Dehydroepiandrosterone in Girls and Boys

    September 1979 in “ Acta Paediatrica ”
    Dan Apter, A. Pakarinen, Geoffrey L. Hammond, R. Vihko
    TLDR Girls have higher DHEA levels earlier in puberty than boys, indicating earlier development.
    The study examined serum levels of ACTH, Cortisol, and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in 200 girls and 80 boys to understand adrenocortical function during puberty. In girls, DHEA levels increased significantly from ages 7.5 to 12.5, plateaued until 15.5, and then rose again until 18.5. Boys showed a progressive increase in DHEA starting at 8.5 years, with a rapid increase after 12.5 years, but their levels were lower than girls until the oldest age group, reflecting earlier pubertal development in girls. DHEA appeared to play a different role in initiating puberty in each sex, with girls having nearly double the levels of boys at similar stages of pubic hair growth. Cortisol levels in girls increased progressively, with higher levels postmenarche, while boys experienced a decrease until 12.5 years and an increase from 16.5 years. ACTH levels showed no significant changes across age groups, and there was an inverse but nonsignificant relationship between ACTH and Cortisol levels in both sexes.
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