Concentrations of luteinizing hormone--human chorionic gonadotropin, beta subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin, follicle-stimulating hormone, estradiol, cortisol, and testosterone in cord sera and their correlations.

Abstract Luteinizing hormone-human chorionic gonadotropin (LH-hCG), beta subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), estradiol, cortisol, and testosterone were determined and correlated with each other in 62 samples of cord serum. Cortisol levels in male cord serum were significantly higher than those in female cord serum. Regression analysis showed a significant positive correlation between LH-hCG or β-hCG levels and testosterone levels in male cord serum. These data suggest that there are sex differences in the maturation of the fetal pituitary-gonadal axis.