The mean height is taller in males than in females, except for early teens. In this regard, previous studies have revealed that (1) distribution of the mean adult heights in subjects with disorders accompanied by discordance between sex chromosome complement and bioactive sex steroids and in control subjects (the British height standards) indicates that, of the ~12.5 cm of sex difference in the mean adult height, ~9 cm is accounted for by the difference in the sex chromosome complement and the remaining ~3.5 cm is explained by the dimorphism in sex steroids (primarily due to the growth-promoting effect of gonadal androgens); (2) according to the infancy-childhood-puberty growth model, the sex difference in the childhood growth function produces height differences of ~1 cm in childhood and 8-10 cm at 18-20 years of age, whereas the sex difference in the pubertal growth function yields height difference of ~4.5 cm at 18-20 years of age; and (3) SHOX expression and methylation analyses using knee cartilage tissues and cultured chondrocytes have shown lower SHOX expression levels in female samples than in male samples and methylation patterns consistent with partial spreading of X-inactivation affecting SHOX in female samples. These findings suggest that small but persistent sex difference in SHOX expression dosage leads to the variation in the sex steroid independent childhood growth function, thereby yielding the sex difference in height which remains small in childhood but becomes obvious in adulthood.

Tsutomu Ogata

Atsushi Hattori

Maki Fukami

Endocrine Journal

ENDOCRINE JOURNAL 是一本开放获取、同行评议的在线期刊，历史悠久。该杂志在基础、转化和临床内分泌学等多方面发表同行评议的研究文章。 ENDOCRINE JOURNAL 提供了一个交流您在近期内分泌学任何领域的想法、概念和科学观察的机会。手稿可以作为原始文章、注释、快速通信或评论文章提交。我们拥有快速的审稿和编辑决策系统，并特别关注我们快速、真正科学且经常被引用的出版物。请通过链接获取作者指南。

ENDOCRINE JOURNAL is a long-established, open-access, peer-reviewed online journal. It publishes peer-reviewed research articles across various aspects of basic, translational, and clinical endocrinology. ENDOCRINE JOURNAL provides an opportunity to share your ideas, concepts, and scientific observations in any area of endocrinology. Manuscripts can be submitted as original articles, notes, rapid communications, or review articles. We have a fast review and editorial decision system, with a particular focus on rapid, genuine scientific publications that are frequently cited. Please refer to the link for author guidelines.

ENDOCRINE JOURNAL 是一本开放获取、同行评议的在线期刊，历史悠久。该杂志在基础、转化和临床内分泌学等多个领域发表同行评议的研究文章。ENDOCRINE JOURNAL 为您提供了一个交流您在内分泌学各个领域的想法、概念和科学观察的机会。手稿可以作为原始文章、注释、快速通信或评论文章提交。我们拥有快速的审稿和编辑决策系统，并特别关注快速、真实的科学出版物，这些出版物通常被广泛引用。请通过链接获取作者指南。

Category	Quartile
医学	4
医学, 内分泌学与代谢	4

<i>SHOX</i> and sex difference in height: a hypothesis

ivySCI AI Smartly Parses PDF, Answers Researchers' Questions, and Helps You Understand Papers in Seconds

Journal Info

Category	Quartile
ENDOCRINOLOGY & METABOLISM	4