TY - JOUR PY - 2000// TI - Prolonged activation of the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis in a child with X-linked adrenal hypoplasia congenita JO - Clinical endocrinology A1 - Takahashi, I. A1 - Takahashi, T. A1 - Shoji, Y. A1 - Takada, G. SP - 127 EP - 129 VL - 53 IS - 1 N2 - X-linked adrenal hypoplasia congenita (AHC) is a rare developmental disorder of the human adrenal cortex that is caused by a mutation of the DAX-1 gene, a member of the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily. Hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism is frequently associated with this disease and the DAX-1 mutation is known to impair gonadotrophin production by acting at both the hypothalamic and pituitary levels. However, three recent studies reported that the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis was active in six infants with AHC, suggesting that a difference exists in the central regulation of hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal activity between infant boys and pubertal boys. To determine the effect of the DAX-1 gene mutation on the axis in early childhood, we measured testosterone, LH, and FSH and performed LH-releasing hormone tests on a boy with AHC from birth to 3 years of age. Surprisingly, our findings showed that the axis was active from the infantile period to 3 years of age. This delayed initiation of the prepubertal pause, or prolonged activation of the axis, indicates that the DAX-1 gene is related to the control mechanism of the prepubertal restraint of gonadotrophin secretion.

Language: en

LA - en SN - 0300-0664 UR - http://dx.doi.org/ ID - ref1 ER -