April - June 2009, Volume 5, Issue 2

Karim A, Nasir-Afzal M

Pubertal development and growth among boys in a sample of local Pakistani population

Acta Endo (Buc) 2009, 5 (2): 165-175
doi: 10.4183/aeb.2009.165

Objective. Few studies are available on the temporal sequence and effect of ethnicity,\r\nsocioeconomic status and environment on pubertal changes leading to sexual maturation in\r\nboys; therefore, we describe normative values for developmental changes in physical and\r\nendocrine characteristics at onset and during progression of the pubertal process in a cohort\r\nof Pakistani boys.\r\nDesign. This cross-sectional study involved 234 healthy, 8-18 years old, school-based boys.\r\nMethods. Body weight, height, appearance of pubic hair patterns and testicular volume\r\n(TV) along with serum FSH, LH, testosterone and GH levels were measured.\r\nResults. Pubarche was first recorded at a mean age of 11.3 years [Tanner stage 2]. TV of\r\n3 ml and the first significant increase in mean serum FSH and LH levels were detected at 10\r\nyears of age. The mean percent increase in TV/year was maximal from 12-14 years, coinciding\r\nwith rising testosterone levels. The levels of gonadotropins increased more than 2-fold between\r\n12-14 years. Whereas, LH continued to increase in postpubertal boys and FSH levels plateaued\r\nat 15 years. GH concentrations were shown to be maximal at 12-13 years and declined\r\nthereafter to prepubertal values. However, BW and height were significantly correlated with\r\nage; yet no significant correlation was seen between body mass index (BMI) and age.\r\nConclusion. The present data among boys indicates an earlier transition to the Tanner stage\r\n2 and an increase in TV, resulting in a slightly more extended period of pubertal development, as\r\ncompared to European and American children pointing to ethnic, social and economic differences.

Keywords: Puberty, HPG-Axis, Gonadotropins, Testosterone, GH, testicular volume

Correspondence: Dr. Asima Karim, Dept. of Physiology and Cell Biology, University of Health\r\nSciences Lahore Khayaban-e-Jamia Punjab Lahore-54600, Pakistan Tel: 92-42-111-333-366;\r\nFax: 92-042-9230870 Email: docasima@yahoo.com