Decreased serum levels of insulin - like growth factor - 1 [I G F - 1] and insulin - like growth factor binding protein - 3 [I G F B P - 3] in children with underscended testes

ABSTRACT

This study was carried out on 65 boys with undescended testes [22 bilateral and 43 unilateral] in comparison with 20 apparently healthy normal controls of a matched age. All of them were subjected to hormonal estimation follicle stimulating hormone [FSH], LH, growth hormone [GH], testosterone in addition to IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 and sonographic evaluation for an accurate localization of testes. The serum levels of FSH, LH and GH were determined using solid phase, two- site chemiluminescent enzyme immunometric assay. Total testosterone was measured by the electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. Free testosterone and IGFBP-3 were measured by radioimmunoassay technique, while IGF-1 was measured by active non-extraction ELISA technique