Studies on testicular function in children: plasma concentrations of testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone and its sulfate before and after stimulation with human chorionic gonadotrophin. (1)

Plasma concentrations of testosterone, D and DS, have been determined in 16 normal children before and after HCG stimulation. Mean testosterone levels were 31, 8 ± 10 mμg/100 ml. before HCG and 554 ± 121 mμg/100 ml. after HCG. D was studied in 6 children only. The mean values were 138 ± 40 mμg/100 ml. and 394 ± 204 mμg/100 ml. before and after HCG respectively. DS concentration was very low before the age of 7 years, increasing thereafter to reach levels very close to those found in adults before there was clinical evidence of the onset of puberty. In the group as a whole, the mean DS concentration before HCG was 27, 1 ± 16, 6 μg/100 ml. and after HCG 36, 4 ± 16, 9 μg/ 100 ml. the difference not being significant (p > 0, 05). However if subjects less than 8 years old were considered separately, the mean values were 5, 4 ± 2, 5 μg/100 ml. and 13, 9 ± 5, 5 μg/100 ml. before and after HCG and this difference is significant (p