[Plasma androgens in boys from birth to adolescence (author's transl)].

Plasma testosterone, androstenedione, dehydroepiandrosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate were measured by radioimmunoassay in 222 normal boys aged 1 hour to 18 years and 40 normal men aged 20 to 40 years. Three periods of high testosterone levels were observed in boys during extra-uterine life: first day (mean level 12 nmol/l), from the 12th to the 119th day (9 nmol/l) and from 13 years onwards in pubertal boys; the highest values were reached between 20 and 40 years (18 nmol/l). Androstenedione curve exhibited three coincident high concentrations phases: mean level at birth 8.7 nmol/l, and from 12th to 119th day 2.6 nmol/l. The lowest values were observed between 2 and 4 years; then a progressive increase occured up to adult age levels: 3.5 nmol/l. Dehydroepiandrosterone mean level was high at birth (20 nmol/l) then decreased slowly, either regularly or with a rebound during the 2nd month, a minimum being reached between 2 and 4 years (0.28 nmol/l). It increased thereafter exponentially up to adult levels reached after the age of 16 years (14 nmol/l). Dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate mean level decreased regularly from birth to the second year, then its curve paralleled the dehydroepiandrosterone curve.