Trong nghiên cứu này, cao hơn mức DHEAS được tìm thấy trong SGA so với trẻ em AGA. Ibanez et al. [53] trước đây đã chứng minh cao DHEAS cấp trong nonobese không có triệu chứng, cô gái postmenarcheal sinh ra nhỏ hơn tuổi thai. | In the present study higher DHEAS levels are found in SGA in comparison with AGA children. Ibanez et al. 53 previously demonstrated elevated DHEAS levels in asymptomatic nonobese postmenarcheal girls born small for gestational age. In addition they showed that minor fetal growth reduction appears to be associated with amplified adrenarche whereas more pronounced prenatal growth restriction seems to precede functional ovarian hyperandro-genism during adolescence 19 . To study the prevalence of polycystic ovary syndrome PCO and subfertility in girls in the present study longer follow-up is needed. The clinical relevance of an exaggerated adrenarche levels in SGA boys is yet uncertain. Overall the present data do support the concept that low birth weight as a consequence of intrauterine malnutrition has long-lasting effects on pubertal development as well as adrenal function. The present studies in the IUGR and FR rat models focused on growth and timing of puberty in terms of structure and function of the gonads of both sexes. The lower body weight at onset of puberty in IUGR and FR rats compared to controls indicate that no threshold for body weight is needed for the onset of puberty. The differences in body mass index body composition and serum leptin levels between the two rat models at that time also do suggest that onset of puberty in the rat is not dependent on a certain percentage of body fat or a certain threshold of leptin levels. On the other hand it has to be questioned if these metabolic disturbances are at least in part responsible for the impaired sexual maturation in both male and female rats. Further signs of impaired sexual maturation observed in IUGR and FR female rats were that VO and first cycle were uncoupled. In the IUGR female rat the delayed VO is explained by the lower number of developing follicles reaching appropriate estrogen levels at a later moment to obtain VO. The impaired follicle growth in IUGR rats may be the result of inadequate .
