Sexual maturation in humans is characterized by a unique individual variability. Pubertal onset is a highly heritable polygenic trait but it is also affected by environmental factors such as obesity or endocrine disrupting chemicals. The last 30 years have been marked by a constant secular trend toward earlier age at onset of puberty in girls and boys around the world. More recent data, although more disputed, suggest an increased incidence in idiopathic central precocious puberty. Such trends point to a role for environmental factors in pubertal changes. Animal data suggest that the GnRH-neuronal network is highly sensitive to endocrine disruption during development. This review focuses on the most recent data regarding secular trend in pubertal timing as well as potential new epigenetic mechanisms explaining the developmental and transgenerational effects of endocrine disrupting chemicals on pubertal timing.

人类性成熟的特点是独特的个体差异。青春期发病是一种高度遗传的多基因性状，但它也受到环境因素的影响，如肥胖或内分泌干扰化学物质。在过去的 30 年里，世界各地的女孩和男孩青春期开始的年龄一直呈长期趋势。最近的数据虽然更有争议，但表明特发性中枢性性早熟的发病率增加。这种趋势表明环境因素在青春期变化中的作用。动物数据表明，GnRH-神经元网络对发育过程中的内分泌干扰高度敏感。