Studies on Changes in the Concentration of Serum Adrenal Androgens in Pubertal Twins

The study investigated the correlation between serum adrenal androgens and puberty in 74 monozygotic and 24 dizygotic twin pairs. It found that adrenal androgen levels, specifically 11-deoxy-17-ketosteroids and dehydroepiandrosterone, increased with bone age and correlated with pubic and axillary hair growth stages. Girls showed earlier puberty progression than boys. No correlation was found between adrenal androgens and pituitary gonadotrophins or prolactin. The study suggested that adrenal androgens play a crucial role in puberty onset and progression, independent of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. Genetic factors were indicated by higher intrapair similarity of androgen levels in monozygotic twins compared to dizygotic twins.