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. 2020 Jun;25(2):84-91.
doi: 10.6065/apem.2040094.047. Epub 2020 Jun 30.

Minipuberty of human infancy - A window of opportunity to evaluate hypogonadism and differences of sex development?

Christoffer Højrup Renault  1 , Lise Aksglaede  1 , Ditte Wøjdemann  1 , Anna Berg Hansen  1 , Rikke Beck Jensen  1 , Anders Juul  1
Affiliations

Minipuberty of human infancy - A window of opportunity to evaluate hypogonadism and differences of sex development?

Christoffer Højrup Renault et al. Ann Pediatr Endocrinol Metab. 2020 Jun.

Abstract

Activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis happens in 3 phases during life. The first phase is during fetal life and is only separated from the second phase, called minipuberty, by the high concentration of placental hormones at birth. The third period of activation of the HPG axis is puberty and is well-described. Minipuberty consists of the neonatal activation of the HPG axis, mainly in the first 1-6 months, where the resulting high levels of gonadotropins and sex steroids induce the maturation of sexual organs in both sexes. With gonadal activation, testosterone levels rise in boys with peak levels after 1-3 months, which results in penile and testicular growth. In girls, gonadal activation leads to follicular maturation and a fluctuating increase in estrogen levels, with more controversy regarding the actual influence on the target tissue. The regulation of the HPG axis is complex, involving many biological and environmental factors. Only a few of these have known effects. Many details of this complex interaction of factors remain to be elucidated in order to understand the mechanisms underlying the first postnatal activation of the HPG axis as well as mechanisms shutting down the HPG axis, resulting in the hormonal quiescence observed between minipuberty and puberty. Minipuberty allows for the maturation of sexual organs and forms a platform for future fertility, but the long-term significance is still not absolutely clear. However, it provides a window of opportunity in the early detection of differences of sexual development, offering the possibility of initiating early medical treatment in some cases.

Keywords: Testosterone; Window of opportunity; Minipuberty.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of interest

No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
(A) Male fetuses and infants. Serum LH, FSH, and testosterone concentrations throughout life in male subjects. In fetal life, placental hCG production stimulates the testosterone secretion in male fetuses during early gestation, and hereafter the fetal endogenous production of pituitary LH continues to stimulate the testosterone secretion which hereafter decreases concomitantly with FSH and LH levels towards birth. After birth LH, FSH, and testosterone increase in minipuberty with maximal levels at 1–2 months of age, followed by a significant suppression until puberty. (B) Female fetuses and infants. Serum LH, FSH, and estradiol increase in female fetuses midgestation which decreases by the end of gestation to very low levels. After birth FSH, LH, and estradiol increase at 1–2 months of age followed by slowly declining FSH, LH and fluctuating estradiol levels for 12–18 months. Females have higher FSH versus LH levels at all times compared to male fetuses and infants. LH, luteinizing hormone; FSH, follicle-stimulating hormone; hCG, human chorionic gonadotropin. Adapted from Lanciotti et al., Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2018;9:410 [14].
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