ANDROSTENEDIONE, DEHYDROEPIANDROSTERONE-SULFATE, AND ESTRADIOL LEVELSTHROUGHOUT FEMALE PUBERTY - RELATION TO HEIGHT VELOCITY

Sex steroids are important contributors to the pubertal growth spurt. Both androgens and estrogens have been related to this moment of rapid growth, but the role of estrogens is thought to be the most important one. Since exogenous estrogens are not capable to induce an appropria te growth spurt in girls, there might be an additional contributing fa ctor involved. In a recent pilot study of 32 healthy pubertal girls, w e found that the peak height velocity (HV) is preceded by relatively h igh levels of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate and androstenedione (Delt a 4A) as compared with the end-pubertal level. In the present study we evaluated HV in relation to dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate and Delta 4A levels in 149 healthy girls of various Tanner stages. HV was correl ated with Delta 4A and estradiol levels in Tanner stages I-III. These results suggest that, like estrogens, Delta 4A might be an important s timulator of the female growth spurt.