Objective. The present study aimed at investigating unique patterns of salivary cortisol reactivity and recovery in response to a social stressor among girls with early puberty and exploring possible role of depressive symptom in this association. Design. Case-control study. Patients. Fifty-six girls with early puberty and age- and body mass index- (BMI-) matched normal puberty controls (n = 56...

PURPOSE OF REVIEW Puberty is an important developmental stage during which reproductive capacity is attained. Genetic and environmental factors both influence the timing of puberty, which varies greatly among individuals. However, although genetic variation is known to influence the normal spectrum of pubertal timing, the specific genes involved remain unknown. RECENT FINDINGS Recent genetic ...

Puberty is advanced by sex hormones, yet it is not clear how it is best measured. The interrelation of multiple indices of puberty was examined, including the Pubertal Development Scale (PDS), a picture-based interview about puberty (PBIP), and a physical exam. These physical pubertal measures were then associated with basal hormones responsible for advancing puberty. Participants included 160 ...

The major determinants of the variability in pubertal maturation are reported to be genetic and inherited. Nonetheless, nutritional status contributes significantly to this variability. Malnutrition delays puberty whereas obesity has been associated to a rise in Idiopathic Central Precocious Puberty (ICPP) in girls. However, epidemiology data indicate that contribution of obesity to early puber...

Puberty is a complex process that culminates in the acquisition of psychophysical maturity and reproductive capacity. This elaborate fascinating marks end childhood. Behind it lies complex, genetically mediated neuroendocrine mechanism through which gonads are activated thanks to fine balance between central inhibitory stimulating neuromodulators hormones with both peripheral action. The onset ...

In male golden hamsters, exposure to social stress during puberty alters aggressive behavior. Interestingly, agonistic behavior undergoes two major transitions during puberty: a decline in attack frequency and a shift from play fighting to adult-like aggression. Based on previous observations, we developed an approach for characterizing offensive responses as play fighting or adult-like. The pr...

PURPOSE Precocious puberty is defined as breast development before the age of 8 years in girls. The present study aimed to reveal the diagnosis of Korean girls referred for precocious puberty and to compare the constitutional and endocrinological features among diagnosis groups. METHODS The present study used a retrospective chart review of 988 Korean girls who had visited a pediatric endocri...

The objectives of this study were to determine the incidence of precocious puberty and effect of exposure to a bull on the incidence of precocious puberty in beef heifers. The experiment was conducted using 120 heifers during 1990 and 1991. Heifer calves were randomly assigned to be pastured in the presence (n = 30 heifers/yr) or absence (n = 30 heifers/yr) of a bull starting at 140 +/- 14 d of...

OBJECTIVE Precocious puberty leads to discrepancies between physical and chronological age. The aim of the present study was to evaluate behavioral patterns and social competences in 34 girls with idiopathic precocious puberty. METHODS Height, body weight, and BMI were determined, and pubertal development was assessed. The Korean-child behavior checklist (K-CBCL) was completed by parents. R...

This Special Issue of Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology covers an ebullient area of Neuroendocrinology, pertaining to the genetic, hormonal and neural mechanisms controlling the onset of puberty in mammals. This initiative was undertaken some one year ago upon the suggestion of the Editor-in-Chief, Ilpo Huhtaniemi, who wisely proposed this to be a topic of broad and renewed interest for the ...