| Endocrinologic Characteristics of Adolescents. |
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Eun Gyong Yoo |
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Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Pochon CHA University, Bundang, Korea. pedyoo@cha.ac.kr |
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| Abstract |
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Adolescence is a transition period from childhood to adulthood, and many physical, cognitive, and psychosocial changes are taken place in adolescence. Endocrinologic changes are usually associated with puberty, and play a central role in accomplishing the developmental task of adolescence. During puberty, secretion of gonadotropins, gonadal steroids, growth hormone, insulin like growth factor-1 and inhibin are increased. Insulin resistance is transiently increased in puberty. Gender differences of some hormones, such as testosterone-binding globulin, prolactin, prostate specific antigen, leptin and adiponectin, appear during puberty. The activation of hypothalamic gonadotropin-releasing hormone pulse generator initiates and regulates the reactivation of hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis at puberty. The adolescent growth spurt in normal girls and boys depends on both estradiol and growth hormone. In the male as well as the female, estrogen (not androgen) is the critical sex hormone in the pubertal growth spurt, skeletal maturation, and the accrual of peak bone mass. |
| Keywords:
Adolescence;Puberty;Hormone;Gonadotropin |
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