ROLES OF ANTHROPOMETRIC VARIATIONS AND SERUM HORMONAL (PROLACTIN AND ESTRADIOL) LEVELS ON THE INITIATION OF PRECOCIOUS PUBERTY

Akinluwade E. O., Isong I. K. P., Esiere K. S., Udoh A. E. and *Akinluwade K. J.

ABSTRACT

Aims: The aim of the present study is to evaluate and compare prolactin and estradiol levels of selected male and female subjects within each sex group; as well as to determine subjects who may be potential candidates for precocious puberty based on their ages and hormonal levels of prolactin and estradiol. Study Design: The study sample population included 177 healthy male and female subjects whose blood samples were taken and clinically assayed for prolactin and estradiol by the ELISA kit technique. Methodology: The subjects’ and control’s quantitative values were derived automatically using a 4-Parameter Logistics curve fit of the micro plate reader and subsequently statistically analyzed using One way analysis of variance (ANOVA), Student t-test and Pearson Correlation. Results: Results pointed out that five of the female subjects had very high levels of prolactin, six female subjects had very high level of estradiol, while one male had high level of prolactin—these were adjudged candidates for precocious puberty. Conclusion: An important discovery in this work is the observed decrease in levels of prolactin from age 6 to 10 years in both sexes. It was confirmed that the females have statistically significant higher height, weight, prolactin and estradiol than their male counterparts. Proper prolactin and estradiol hormonal levels in children control many bodily functions including growth and secondary characteristics associated with puberty.

Keywords: Prolactin; precocious puberty; person correlation; serum; estradiol; blood.