Evidence that pubertal status impacts KNDy neurons in the gilt

Puberty onset is a complex physiological process which enables the capacity for reproduction through increased gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), and subsequently luteinizing hormone (LH), secretion. While cells that coexpress kisspeptin, neurokinin B (NKB), and dynorphin in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus (ARC) are believed to govern the timing of puberty, the degree to which KNDy neurons exist and are regulated by pubertal status remains to be determined in the gilt. Hypothalamic tissue from prepubertal and postpubertal, early follicular phase gilts was used to determine the expression of kisspeptin, NKB, and dynorphin within the ARC. Fluorescent in situ hybridization revealed that the majority (> 74%) of ARC neurons that express mRNA for kisspeptin coexpressed mRNA for NKB and dynorphin. There were fewer ARC cells that expressed mRNA for dynorphin in postpubertal gilts compared to prepubertal gilts (P < 0.05), but the number of ARC cells expressing mRNA for kisspeptin or NKB was not different between groups. Within KNDy neurons, mRNA abundance for kisspeptin, NKB, and dynorphin of postpubertal gilts was the same as, less than, and greater than, respectively, prepubertal gilts. Immunostaining for kisspeptin did not differ between prepubertal and postpubertal gilts, but there were fewer NKB immunoreactive fibers in postpubertal gilts compared to prepubertal gilts (P < 0.05). Together, these data reveal novel information about KNDy neurons in gilts and supports the idea that NKB and dynorphin play a role in puberty onset in the female pig.

Choroidal thickness in children with type 1 diabetes depending on the pubertal status and metabolic parameters analyzed by optical coherence tomography

To assess choroidal thickness (CT) in children with type 1diabetes (T1D) regarding their pubertal status and seek for factors influencing this parameter, using optical coherence tomography. Material and methods: 333 eyes out of 167 children with T1D without symptoms of diabetic retinopathy (mean age 12.81 ± 3.63 years, diabetes duration 4.59 ± 3.71 years) were enrolled. CT in all quadrants was evaluated. The studied population was divided into three groups: prepubertal, pubertal and postpubertal. The multivariate regression model was carried out using all metabolic parameter and then it was built using only the significant ones. Results: Significant differences in CT between males and females, except nasal and superior quadrants were observed. We revealed significant differences in CT between the three independent groups (Chi-square 18.6, p < 0.0001). In the statistically significant multiple regression model (R = 0.9, R2 = 0.82, p < 0.0000), the serum level of free thyroxine, triiodothyronine, total hemoglobin, uric acid, low- and high-density cholesterol, daily insulin dose per kilogram, weight and level of vitamin D were significant. Conclusion: In our studied group CT increases during puberty. Metabolic parameters such as cholesterol, uric acid, thyroid hormones, and hemoglobin concentration even within the normal range, significantly influence the CT, and these factors likely affect other blood vessels in the body.

Investigation of Gonadal Function, Puberty, and their relationship to Serum Ferritin in Male patients with β-Thalassemia major in Syria

Objectives: Endocrine disorders continue to affect the health of thalassemia patients, foremost of which is hypogonadism being the most frequent endocrine complication that involves 70-80% of beta-thalassemia major (β-TM) patients. Actually, the role of iron overload in endocrine complications is well known. Our study goals were to investigate gonadal function, assess pubertal status among Syrian male patients with β-TM and correlate hormonal panel with serum ferritin as the marker of iron overload. Methods: 56 β-TM regularly transfused male patients were enrolled in this study, they were 21.91±5.01 years old. FSH, LH, Total Testosterone, and Serum Ferritin were measured for all patients, 52 of them undergone pubertal status evaluation. Results: Results showed that 60.7% of patients suffered from hypogonadism, which was hypogonadotropic hypogonadism in 97.06% of them. Delayed puberty was seen in 7.7% of the patients, while arrested puberty was found in 82.69% of them. All patients had iron overload and 92.86% of them suffered from severe iron elevation. Both gonadal and pubertal status were independent of the serum ferritin levels (P=0.73), (P=0.81) respectively. There was significant positive correlation between FSH: LH (r=0.584, P=0.0001), FSH: Testosterone (r=0.562, P=0.0001), LH: Testosterone (r=0.746, P=0.0001), MCHC: Testosterone (r=0.292, P=0.038), and BMI: Hb (r=0.351, P=0.009). Conclusions: Our findings indicated that hypogonadism, arrested puberty and severe iron overload were highly prevalent among male patients with β-TM. Patients with better gonadal reserve have higher BMI than those with gonadal dysfunction. We suggest that hypogonadism in β-TM patients is not directly related to serum ferritin levels; other potential factors (such as chronic anemia, hypoxia, and genetic predisposition) may contribute. Also we suggest that adequate blood transfusion and appropriate iron chelation, along with regular evaluation for gonadal status and timely intervention can improve the management of aforementioned complications, thus ameliorating patients’ quality of life.

Pubertal status of children with congenital heart disease

Background: CHD influences many aspects of life in affected individuals. Puberty, a major aspect of development, is a concern for patients and families. Objectives: We investigated pubertal status in children and adolescents with CHD. Methods: Patients with CHD aged 6–18 were enrolled. Cardiac diagnoses were confirmed using history, examination, and paraclinical tools including echocardiography. An endocrinologist determined pubertal stages, and the second Tanner stages for pubarche (P2), thelarche (B2), and gonadarche (G2) were considered as the pubertal onset. A study with a large sample size on pubertal onset in a normal population was used for comparison. Results: Totally, 451 patients (228 girls and 223 boys) at a median (10th–90th percentile) age of 10.79 (8.02–14.28) years for the girls and 10.72 (8.05–14.03) years for the boys were enrolled. The median (10th–90th percentile) ages at B2 and P2 in the girls with CHD were 10.77 (9.55–12.68) and 10.53 (9.39–12.28) years, respectively, which were higher than the median ages of 9.74 (8.23–11.94) and 10.49 (8.86–12.17) years in the normal girls. The median (10th–90th percentile) ages at G2 and P2 in the boys with CHD were 11.04 (8.85–13.23) and 11.88 (9.78–13.46) years, correspondingly, which were higher than the median ages of 9.01 (6.00–11.84) and 10.34 (6.84–13.10) years in the normal boys. Conclusions: Pubertal onset could be delayed in children with CHD when compared with the normal population.

Associating puberty, metabolism and cognition

Cognition is influenced by pubertal and metabolic changes independently. However, these changes co-occur in adolescence and their combined role on cognition is unclear. We used Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to investigated the association of pubertal and metabolic status latent factors, each composed of a pool of indicators, on intelligence markers in 278 early adolescents, cross-sectionally. The SEM model, controlled for socioeconomic status, included paths between latent factors and from them to the outcomes: two subtests of Wechsler Abbreviated Intelligence Scale (Block Design; Vocabulary). Metabolic status related to pubertal status only in girls, but did not affect performance. Differently, more advanced pubertal status (controled for age) was positively associated with better verbal (Vocabulary) and non-verbal (Block Design) intelligence in both sexes.