Nocturnal Rise of Leptin in Normal Prepubertal and Pubertal Children and in Patients with Perinatal Stalk-Transection Syndrome

We studied 24-h profiles of circulating leptin levels using a sensitive and specific radioimmunoassay in healthy pre- (Tanner 1) and pubertal boys and girls (Tanner 3-4) as well as in a group of patients with perinatal stalk-transection syndrome. Similar nyctohemeral rhythm in serum leptin levels were found in prepubertal (MESOR: 2.34 ± 0.2 ng/ml; amplitude 0.32 ± 0.1 ng/ml) and pubertal boys (MESOR 2.2 ± 0.2 ng/ml; amplitude 0.38 ± 0.07 ng/ml). Likewise, no differences were found between prepubertal (MESOR 6.6 ± 1.07 ng/ml; amplitude 1.67± 0.4 ng/ml) and pubertal girls (MESOR 4.05 ± 0.5 ng/ml; amplitude 0.95 ± 0.2 mg/ml). In contrast, higher MESOR (P < 0.002) and amplitude values (P < 0.005) were found in prepubertal and pubertal girls than in prepubertal and pubertal boys. Finally a significant nyctohemeral rhythm in serum leptin levels was found in patients with perinatal stalk-transection syndrome (MESOR: 9.3 ± 2.3 ng/ml; amplitude 1.46 ± 0.4 ng/ml). This data shows the existence of sexual dimorphism ...