Secretions of GH, FSH and LH during sleep of the normal child and the child with retarded growth]

In normal children the major GH release begins during NREM sleep of first cycle. At puberty secretion of gonadotropins is enhanced and secretion of LH occurs with the same periodicity as the sleep cycles. Two groups of dwarfish are seen: the first lacks both GH secretion during sleep and the increase of gonadotropins at puberty. The second group exhibits GH, LH and FSH secretion patterns similar to normal children. Study of secretion patterns of GH, FSH and LH during sleep in children can document the degree of maturation of the hypothalamic pituitary hormonal system.