Circulating miR-30b levels increase during male puberty

OBJECTIVE: The role of microRNAs as endocrine regulators is emerging, and microRNA mir-30b has been reported to repress Mkrn3. However, the expression of miR-30b during male puberty has not been studied. DESIGN AND METHODS: Circulating relative miR-30b expression was assessed in sera of 26 boys with constitutional delay of growth and puberty (CDGP), treated with low-dose testosterone (T) (n=11) or aromatase inhibitor letrozole (n=15) for 6 months and followed up to 12 months (NCT01797718). The associations between the relative expression of miR-30b and hormonal markers of puberty were evaluated. RESULTS: During the 12 months of the study, circulating miR-30b expression increased 2.4 ± 2.5 (SD) fold (p=0.008) in all boys, but this change did not correlate with corresponding changes in LH, testosterone, inhibin B, FSH, or testicular volume (p=0.25-0.96). Lz-induced activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis was associated with more variable miR-30b responses at 3 months (P<0.05), whereas those treated with T exhibited significant changes in relative miR-30b levels in the course the study (p<0.01-0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Circulating miR-30b expression in boys with CDGP increases in the course of puberty, and appears to be related to the activity of the HPG axis.

Effects of endocrine disruptors on fetal testis development, male puberty, and transition age

Purpose Endocrine disruptors (EDs) are exogenous substances able to impair endocrine system; consequently, they may cause numerous adverse effects. Over the last years, particular focus has been given to their harmful effects on reproductive system, but very little is known, especially in males. The aim of this review is to discuss the detrimental effects of EDs exposure on fetal testis development, male puberty, and transition age. Methods A search for the existing literature focusing on the impact of EDs on fetal testis development, male puberty, andrological parameters (anogenital distance, penile length, and testicular volume), and testicular cancer with particular regard to pubertal age provided the most current information available for this review. Human evidence-based reports were given priority over animal and in vitro experimental results. Given the paucity of available articles on this subject, all resources were given careful consideration. Results Information about the consequences associated with EDs exposure in the current literature is limited and often conflicting, due to the scarcity of human studies and their heterogeneity. Conclusions We conclude that current evidence does not clarify the impact of EDs on human male reproductive health, although severe harmful effects had been reported in animals. Despite controversial results, overall conclusion points toward a positive association between exposure to EDs and reproductive system damage. Further long-term studies performed on wide number of subjects are necessary in order to identify damaging compounds and remove them from the environment.

Testicular Ultrasound to Stratify Hormone References in a Cross-Sectional Norwegian Study of Male Puberty

Context Testicular growth represents the best clinical variable to evaluate male puberty, but current pediatric hormone references are based on chronological age and subjective assessments of discrete puberty development stages. Determination of testicular volume (TV) by ultrasound provides a novel approach to assess puberty progression and stratify hormone reference intervals. Objective The objective of this article is to establish references for serum testosterone and key hormones of the male pituitary-gonadal signaling pathway in relation to TV determined by ultrasound. Design, Setting, and Participants Blood samples from 414 healthy Norwegian boys between ages 6 and 16 years were included from the cross-sectional “Bergen Growth Study 2.” Participants underwent testicular ultrasound and clinical assessments, and serum samples were analyzed by liquid chromatography tandem–mass spectrometry and immunoassays. Main Outcome Measures We present references for circulating levels of total testosterone, luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and sex hormone–binding globulin in relation to TV, chronological age, and Tanner pubic hair stages. Results In pubertal boys, TV accounted for more variance in serum testosterone levels than chronological age (Spearman r = 0.753, P &lt; .001 vs r = 0.692, P &lt; .001, respectively). Continuous centile references demonstrate the association between TV and hormone levels during puberty. Hormone reference intervals were stratified by TV during the pubertal transition. Conclusions Objective ultrasound assessments of TV and stratification of hormone references increase the diagnostic value of traditional references based on chronological age or subjective staging of male puberty.

BIAS POTRET PEREMPUAN MUNA DALAM RITUAL LIFE-CYCLE

In many cultures, the portrait of women strengthened through tradition that regulates and controls the ideal image of women is actually gender bias and misconceptions of women. This study examines three series of women life-cycle ritual in Muna society of Southeast Sulawesi, which is named kangkilo, katoba, and karia (3K). Male puberty in Muna is more biological, while the female puberty is biological as well socially. With anthropology-feminism perspective, this paper confirms that three series ofwomen ritual in Muna is an effort to construct social and culturaly the ideal female character on the side of reproduction, which reassures biased treatment because lack of production ritual for men in his life-cycle ritual. These finding highlights that the portraits of women in the tradition often paradoxical and unfair, where the female puberty socially and culturally is constructed, whereas male puberty is biological and natural which leads gender inequality.

Effect of Low-Level Environmental Lead Exposure on the Onset of Male Puberty

The objective of this study was to evaluate male pubertal changes associated with environmental low-level lead (Pb) exposure. The study was conducted on 180 boys aged 15 years divided into 3 equal size groups: group 1 from El-Newayrat village, group 2 from Al-Shorafaa (0.5 and 10 km, respectively, from an industrialized area), and group 3 from Talla (25 km). Blood Pb levels (BLLs) were measured and pubertal changes evaluated by measurement of testicular volume (TV), and estimation of the follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, testosterone, estradiol, and prolactin. Blood Pb levels of children of El-Newayrat and Al-Shorafaa were significantly higher (6.38 [1.32] and 3.84 [0.79] μg/dL, respectively) than that of Talla children (1.85 [0.72]; P < 0.001), while height, weight, and TV were lower in boys in groups 1 and 2, compared to group 3. Genitalia and pubarche staging showed greatest retardation and marked bone growth delay in boys of group 1. Hormonal assays reported significant differences in boys of the industrialized areas when compared to that of Talla. Low-level Pb exposure in boys located near an industrial area was accompanied with altered male puberty indicators.