Investigation of the hormonal changes in serum and gingival crevicular fluid of individuals in different stages of growth and development

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the maturational stages of the cervical vertebrae determined on lateral cephalometric radiographs and growth markers including growth hormone (GH), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) in serum and gingival crevicular fluid. 85 healthy (45 females and 40 males) subjects between the ages of 7-17, who have not started orthodontic treatment yet, were included in our study. Blood and gingival crevicular fluid samples were taken from the patients to be treated on the day of routine lateral cephalometric and panoramic X-rays collected at the first material appointment. The bone ages of the patients on cervical vertebrae were determined by the same researcher using the "Modified Baccetti Method" in digitally obtained radiographs. GH, IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 markers in blood and gingival crevicular fluid samples obtained from patients were measured by routine biochemical methods. Statistical analysis of the data was performed using Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, Kruskall-Wallis test and Mann Whitney U test. In both sexes no statistically significant difference was found between gingival crevicular fluid and serum GH, IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 levels in different stages of puberty. Mean hormone levels reached higher values in pubertal growth spurt period than in prepubertal and postpubertal periods. In male subjects GCF GH levels supported serum GH levels. In both sexes GCF IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 levels supported serum IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 levels. Serum IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 values can be used as a valuable indicator in determining the level of growth and development, pubertal growth spurt and evaluating the stages. According to our data, in male and female subjects GCF IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 values measured at different stages of puberty support serum IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 values. As a result of our findings, the use of GCF, which is a more practical and non-invasive method compared to blood collection, can be used for growth and development detection as an alternative method to serum. Key words: Cervical vertebrae, growth hormone, insulin-like growth factor-1, insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3, puberty.