Searchable abstracts of presentations at key conferences in endocrinology
Endocrine Abstracts (2012) 29 OC18.5

ICEECE2012 Oral Communications Paediatric Endocrinology (6 abstracts)

Earlier reactivation of the hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal axis and advancement of puberty in boys under labour stress

A. Khan 1 , A. Kanwal 1 , S. Naureen 1 , A. Naseem 1 , S. Aslam 2 , M. Irfan 1 , F. Tahir 3 , M. Qayyum 1 , R. Mansoor 4 , S. Murtaza 5 & S. Rizvi 1,


1PMAS Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan; 2Government College University, Lahore, Pakistan; 3National Institute of Health, Islamabad, Pakistan; 4Rawalpindi Medical College, Rawalpindi, Pakistan; 5Nuclear Oncology and Radiotherapy Institute, Islamabad, Pakistan; 6Pakistan Science Foundation, Islamabad, Pakistan.


The reawakening of the hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) leading to attainment of sexual maturation and reproductive capacity is influenced by several internal and external factors. Amongst external factors, adverse physical or psychological conditions may alter the timing of onset of puberty. The present study examined the effect of persistent and severe physical stress on timing of onset of puberty. The study included non-working school/college going and working boys of 10–20 years of age (n=594). Blood samples were obtained, plasma was separated and concentrations of (LH), (FSH), testosterone (T), inhibin B and cortisol were measured using specific ELISA systems. Data were analyzed using student’s T test and ANOVA. In non-working boys, concentrations of LH and T gradually increased, attaining first peak at 15 and a second peak at 18 years, whereas concentrations of FSH and inhibin B progressively increased and peaked at 14 years. The concentrations of FSH were maintained thereafter, whereas levels of inhibin B slowly declined to low levels. In working boys, concentrations of LH, which were several fold higher at 10 and 11 years compared to school going boys, increased progressively and reached first peak at 14 and a second peak at 17 years. The levels of FSH steadily increased and attained a plateau at 13 years. The concentrations of T were higher at 11 and 12 years and attained first peak at 13 and a second peak at 17 years. The concentrations of inhibin B gradually reached maximum concentrations at 13 years, declining thereafter to low concentrations at 20 years. The concentrations of cortisol were significantly higher in working boys of all age groups. In conclusion, the present study demonstrates that boys under labor stress experience an earlier reawakening of HPG axis and an advancement of puberty by a year or so.

Declaration of interest: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest that could be perceived as prejudicing the impartiality of the research project.

Funding: This research did not receive any specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sector.

Volume 29

15th International & 14th European Congress of Endocrinology

European Society of Endocrinology 

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